Gleaner — May/June 2023 by Gleaner - Northwest Adventists in Action

EDITORIAL

The Power of the Light

PERSPECTIVE

Yuck!

JUST FOR KIDS

5 Summer Activities

The Revitalization of Northwest Churches

MAY/JUNE

2023 VOL.118, Nº3

IMAGES of CREATION

May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy. May you have perfect peace as you trust in Him. May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope. Romans 15:13

CONTENT M AY/J U N E 2 0 2 3

THE POWER OF THE LIGHT JUST WHEN ONE THINKS this world cannot get any darker, a new disaster hits.

From decline to renewal The Revitalization of Northwest Churches

NORTHWEST CONFERENCES have implemented a strategy of reviving and renewing missional outreach and engagement. The effort starts with revitalizing churches.

NORTHWEST ADVENTIST NEWS

NPUC

ACCIÓN

ALASKA

IDAHO MONTANA

OREGON

UPPER WASHINGTON COLUMBIA

58 Yuck!

WALLA WALLA ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY HEALTH

IN EVERY ISSUE

SIN MAKES US A MESS; we have yucky stuff all over us.

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48 51 54 56

FAMILY ADVERTISEMENTS JUST FOR KIDS PERSPECTIVES

EDITORIAL

A senseless war in Ukraine kills thousands, followed by an earthquake in Turkey and mass shootings too numerous to count. Floods, famine, pandemics, tornados, atmospheric

Dispersing the prevailing darkness with the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ is our mission. There are many ways to shine the light of Christ before the world. First, choose

rivers and blizzards fill the headlines. Runs on banks cause panic and fear of contagion in our financial system. There are warnings of nuclear war from Russia and anarchy and attacks on democracy from inside and outside the country. People are believers of lies instead of lovers of the truth. The love of many is turning cold. These are biblical prophecies being fulfilled right before our eyes. The world has seen dark times before, but this is different. In this strange new darkness, we urgently need light. Jesus brought that light a long time ago. The church is called by God to do everything it can to reveal the light to the world. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me, will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” Those who choose to follow Christ walk in the light that shines forth from Him. They then become the light for others because they reflect His light. “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14,16).

to follow Jesus and walk in the light that shines forth from Him. Ask Christ to fill your heart with His light and life. Give Him permission to do His life changing work in you. As we receive Christ by faith, we are able to walk with Christ by faith. As we behold God in the face of Jesus, we shall be changed into His image. Second, reflect the light that shines forth from Jesus to others. Study the awesome, unconditional, sacrificial love of Christ. Share that same love with others by word and deed. There are needy people all around us. Reach out to fill the needs of those who need to see Jesus. Pray for divine appointments and for eyes to see what God sees. Ask to be directed to places where you can use your spiritual gifts to maximize your spiritual effectiveness in ministry. Give with generous hearts and watch the light shine out in the darkness. Third, believe that God can do anything that needs to be done. God’s light disperses the darkness. He can do abundantly more than we could ever ask or think. He is the Almighty God. Jesus told many of those He healed that their faith made the healing possible. Faith is being convicted of things that are not yet

THE POWER OF THE LIGHT JUST WHEN ONE THINKS THIS WORLD CANNOT GET ANY DARKER, A NEW DISASTER HITS.

JOHN FREEDMAN

North Pacific Union president

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seen. Faith is the assurance of those things we hope for. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. With faith, we please Him and testify that He rewards those who walk in the light. Whatever we pray for, we are to believe that God will give it to us and will not withhold anything for our good or for the good of others. Pray for light and believe God will give us the light. On the following pages, you will read stories about Northwest members who have been called by God to use their spiritual gifts for the purpose of church planting. Engaging in the mission, they are discovering new ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and disperse the darkness with the light of Christ. My prayer is for all Northwest Adventists to get involved in the mission. Our world desperately needs the light.

Copyright © 2023 May/June 2023 Vol. 118, No. 3 Gleaner (ISSN 0746-5874) is published bimonthly for a total of 6 issues per year by the North Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®, 5709 N. 20th St., Ridgefield, WA 98642. It is printed and mailed at Pacific Press Publishing Association®, 1350 N. Kings Rd., Nampa, ID 83687-3193. Subscription rate: $15.50 per year. Periodical postage paid at Ridgefield, WA 98642 and additional mailing offices. OUR MISSION: Connecting Northwest Adventists with news and inspiration. POSTMASTER: send all address changes to: North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner 5709 N. 20th St. Ridgefield, WA 98642 360-857-7000 info@nwadventists.com nwadventists.com SUBMISSIONS: Timely announcements, features, news stories and family notices for publication in the Gleaner may be submitted directly to the managing editor at the address listed above. Material sent directly to local conference correspondents may be forwarded to the Gleaner. PLEASE NOTE: Every reasonable effort is made to screen all editorial material to avoid error in this publication. The Gleaner does not accept responsibility for advertisers’ claims.

JOHN FREEDMAN

North Pacific Union president

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IMAGES OF CREATION, P. 2

“Beach Irises,” in Bandon, Oregon, by Scott Knight, of Battle Ground, Washington.

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The Revitalization of Northwest Churches Here in the Northwest, our conferences have adopted a multifaceted strategy of Reaching One More.

The goal over the next few years is an intentional effort to bring about a revival and renewal in missional outreach and engagement. This ambitious strategy will forward North Pacific Union’s mission to reach all people within the territory and world with the distinctive, Christ-centered, Adventist message of hope and wholeness. This effort of Reaching One More for Jesus begins in our churches with revitalization.

DWINDLING GROWTH The Adventist Church originated as a church planting movement. The church had significant and sustained growth until about 30 years ago. In the past decade, the growth rate of our global church has averaged about 2.3%, with the average since 2019 being 0.77%. This alarming drop in growth has resulted in 75% of our churches either plateauing or declining in the last few decades, with many churches closing altogether. This means there is a need for the church to develop innovative ways to revive these struggling churches in our communities. It seems like a monumental task, but looking back at our history, we see the potential growth and impact we can have.

PLANTING POTENTIAL Statistically, church planting has been very effective in reaching people where there is no Adventist presence. This transcends languages, with exceptional growth and church planting in Spanish language churches across North America in recent years. These church plants are growing faster than our existing churches. While church planting has slowed in recent years, there is a concerted effort in the Northwest — and North America — to stop and turn the tide. 6

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To help combat this decline and grow the future, the North American Division has developed Plant 1,000, a vision to have at least one church for every 25,000 people across North America. This planting plan seeks to help churches by providing $10,000 — combined from the General Conference, division, union and conference — for three years. In NPUC, appropriations for church planting have more than doubled in the last few years.

TRANSFORMING CHURCHES This revitalization plan will require intentional efforts from both church leaders and members. It will necessitate creating welcoming and inclusive environments; being intentional with outreach programs in our neighborhoods to foster a sense of community; adopting and implementing modern technologies in our rapidly advancing digital world to reach those who are seeking; and reevaluating worship services to make them more engaging and relevant to our local area. These, and more, will help to revitalize our existing church congregations while also attracting new members.

REVITALIZING THE NORTHWEST Our Northwest conferences and churches are already developing and practicing innovative ways to help our local churches grow, thrive and become vibrant in their communities. In the coming pages of this feature, you will read about these transformations and plans from some of our local conferences. We hope that this will serve as an inspiration and ignite a fire within you to impact your community, and the world, by Reaching One More. ANTHONY WHITE

North Pacific Union associate communication director

REACHING ONE MORE

Revitalize Churches Engage Youth and Young Adults Advance Adventist Education Cultivate Excellence in Leadership Herald the Mission

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-FT-86

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church planting

is Still Essential for God’s Mission in UCC Church planting has always been a key part of how Adventists have forged into new territory with the good news of Jesus’ soon return. It hasn’t always occurred with consistent effort, however. Church planting throughout the years tends to ebb and flow like waves washing over our territories. The most recent church planting wave to wash through Upper Columbia Conference began in the 1990s. With the support of North Pacific Union, UCC began a church planting focus that has started more than 50 churches since 1993. Dozens of communities have been impacted as hundreds of new members found spaces to participate and become leaders. Some of the successes have been extraordinary. One church began planting “daughter” churches in the late 1990s. By 2005, they had planted three churches. Twelve years later, the “mother” church had returned to its previous attendance numbers. Two of the three “daughter” churches were approaching an average attendance of 200, and total tithe giving for all the churches had more than

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quadrupled. One of the “daughter” churches even planted another church nearby. Our Spanish-speaking churches have also experienced phenomenal growth. Almost 50% of the church plants in the last 30 years have been for Spanishspeaking ministry, with one planted to serve second generation Hispanics in both English and Spanish. Of course, not every church plant has succeeded. Some struggled for several years before finally closing. Others have never grown much beyond their initial core group. Differing priorities began to fill the gap as the wave moved on. In the last 10 years, the only new churches planted in UCC have been within our Hispanic ministries. English-speaking church plants have come to a halt. Was church planting just a fad? Does it make sense to add more church groups when we struggle to fill the ones we have? Or is there room for another wave of church planting to wash over UCC? The answer: No, it’s not a fad that has faded away. UCC still believes in church planting for all people groups. We believe that planting new churches is essential to completing God’s mission in our territory. As UCC approached 2023, its administrative team initiated a conferencewide visioning process. Churches chose representatives from around the conference to vision and dream of where God is leading UCC. More than 55 initiatives were identified, and three directly addressed church planting. We believe God is calling us to plant nine churches by the end of 2025.

Seven of those churches will be Spanish-speaking churches. This will continue the trend of church planting UCC has experienced among our Hispanic ministries. Additionally, we plan to double our churches reaching out to our Russianspeaking population as we minister to those displaced by the war in Ukraine. We also see a new wave beginning with another English-speaking church plant as well. Our partnership with NPUC has been key to the previous successes we’ve seen in church planting, and it will continue to be an essential part of future church plants. The North American Division and the union have invested both leadership and significant financial resources to help new churches get started. Even with all the planning and financial support, this vision seems overwhelming. Though the challenges are too great for us to accomplish on our own, God is the One who has called us to this task, and we believe He has the strength and resources to make it happen. A new wave of church planting is building in UCC, and we can’t wait to see where God takes us! ERIC BROWN

Upper Columbia Conference ministerial director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-FT-87

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Church Planting

takes root

in Washington “Do you know the fastest way to grow the Adventist Church?” asked my conference president in 2017. If I asked you this question, what would your answer be? Would you say small groups or evangelistic meetings? Perhaps you would say children’s ministry or community action. While all of these are good answers, the fastest way to grow the church has been through church planting. The Great Commission calls us to make disciples and baptize — and church planting provides the framework that focuses on making disciples and baptizing. Fast-forward six years and 18 church plants later, God is doing something incredible in Washington Conference. The 18 new churches represent six different language groups, and many are made up of young adults. Out of all the churches we planted, we have a 95% success rate, which includes each of the churches going through the worst

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global pandemic in a generation. I hope you are convinced that church planting is one of the fastest and most effective forms of evangelism as it reaches new generations, new residents and new people groups. You may be wondering how we planted 18 churches over six years. I hope to share some best practices in this article and inspire you to go out and plant. If you want to win at anything, you must follow the winning formula for success: prayer + Holy Spirit + intentionality + faith-based optimism = success. Have you ever considered that your church started as a church plant? There was a time when the church you currently attend did not exist, and then the Holy Spirit moved someone’s heart and your church was born. Those who planted your church followed this winning formula. In every conference, there are what we call “dark territories.” They are territories where there is a sizable population and no church. We started our journey by writing down all the “dark territories” within Washington Conference where we would like to see a church, and we began to pray over those areas. In our prayers, we asked the Lord if we could join the work that He is doing in the “dark territories.” Washington Conference, located in the western part of the state, has around 5 million people living within its borders, and we want to see one church for every 25,000 people. We need 200 churches to accomplish this; we are about 80 churches short. At the time of this article, we have one

church for every 40,000 people that reside within Washington Conference’s territory. After mapping our “dark territories,” we started bringing pastors and lay members to the NAD Church Planters Bootcamp. These boot camps have been held on the East and West Coasts and feature some of the best church planting coaches. In fall 2021, Washington Conference hosted West Coast Church Planters Bootcamp at Sunset Lake Camp with more than 100 in attendance. It was there that many of our pastors and lay leaders were inspired and received practical tools they would need to begin planting. When our pastors returned from attending the boot camps, we created a church planting launch plan for Washington Conference. Church planting takes money, so we knew we’d have to invest to help these new churches grow. To know what’s important, consider what you pray for and where the money goes. We have intentionally funded each church plant at $10,000 annually for three years. If you have ever given to support evangelism within Washington Conference, then you have played a part in helping these 18 church plants. This year, Washington Conference teamed up with NAD Evangelism Institute. We are coaching 15 pastors and lay leaders to be church planters and to coach others to plant churches. We will be hosting a Church Planting SEEDS Conference this fall which will help to inspire future church planters.

We believe the local church is the world’s hope, and our greatest resources are pastors and lay leaders who are on fire for God. We believe everything rises and falls with leadership. Therefore, we want to invest in our local leaders. Studies show new churches gain 60– 80% of members from people not attending an Adventist church. Older, already established churches gain 80–90% of their new members through transfers from other congregations. Many of our church plants are made up of young professionals. I recently held a mental health seminar at LifeBridge in Tacoma, and although I am in my mid-40s, about 90% of those at church were younger than me. We see the same thing happening in our different language churches. Second and third-generation young adult professionals want to reach other young adults, so they have church services in English rather than their native tongue. Our goal in 2023 is to start four new churches in Washington Conference, and by God’s grace, we believe we can accomplish this. With our church plants, we are not looking for another church in the community but a church with and for the community. In Washington Conference, churches need to grow in quantity and quality. People love Jesus because Jesus loved people! Our goal is to plant churches that love people regardless of their baggage. All of us carry baggage, and we all need Jesus. More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-FT-88

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Scan here to view Washington Conference’s Church Planting Launch Plan

Oregon Fosters Innovative Church Plants to

reach communities Innovative church plants have long been a vital part of Oregon Conference’s mission. If you’ve spent any time there, you’ve likely heard the motto, It’s All About Jesus. For Oregon laypeople and leaders, this mission of knowing, loving, serving and sharing Jesus is more than a slogan; it’s a way of life. Holistic, discipleship-focused mission is what drives the key strategic focus of planting churches throughout Oregon Conference’s territory. Many unique church plants are already up and running, but over the next five years our goal is to plant 20 more. This plan calls for leaders who know their communities well and can craft a church experience that specifically grows out of the needs and values of their neighbors. When leaders deeply reflect on the lives of people not traditionally attracted by church buildings, groups like Common Ground — an outdoor-based church in the Bend, Oregon, area — emerge. “The journey of this new faith community started a little over a year ago with a series of conversations on what it might look like to form a local body of Christ intentionally structured to engage in the reflecting of Jesus to the postreligious outdoor community of Central Oregon,” shared Randy Folkenberg, Common Ground pastor.

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“This demographic consists of people of various ages who center much of their life around one or more outdoor pursuits,” shared Folkenberg. Common Ground’s mission statement — to grow a movement of Jesus followers who reflect His heart in the outdoor community of Central Oregon — is expressed through weekly house-churches and Bible study groups, monthly worship programs, local service opportunities and multiple outdoor retreats. In Oregon City, a very different church plant emerged and now meets every Sabbath in Oregon City Elks Lodge. “Unofficially we started in a backyard in mid-2020 after COVID-19 shut down churches,” said Jim Reynolds, a lay leader for the group. “Our goal has been to reach people that are not connected to a church.” The group started hosting free breakfasts for the un-housed under the bridge by the church and Reynolds always invited the people to church. Few accepted the offer, until one Sabbath when a homeless man walked in and asked, “Is this a church?” Reynolds answered, “Yes, welcome friend.” He turned to go and said, “I will be back with friends.” A few minutes later, he came back with six people. In Fairview, Oregon, Crosswalk PDX partnered with another local Christian church to share a building. After several pop-up services, they officially launched their weekly program in October 2021. “We are open to all, but our initial target group includes those that have disconnected or walked away from church,” shared Paddy McCoy, Crosswalk PDX pastor. Many church plants from the past few years have already begun to blossom,

including second-generation Englishspeaking church plants supported by the Oregon Conference Hispanic ministries department. Vivid Church began as a church plant in the Salem/Keizer area led by Sam Moreno, and is now in its seventh year. “A lot of young people in the Hispanic and Latino communities need people who understand where they’re coming from,” said Pochy Montes, Vivid Church pastor. “They often can disconnect when sermons and Sabbath school don’t feel relatable to their experiences, and they don’t always understand the expectations that come with church. We offer a safe space to listen to them and have honest conversations. They can be themselves and still learn about our faith without losing their culture.” Dan Linrud, Oregon Conference president, has a high commitment to church planting. As a pastor, he has been an effective church planter, a church planting trainer with the NAD SEEDS church planting movement and a church plant coach. Linrud is helping to personally spearhead the conference church planting initiative, working with pastors and lay persons who sense God’s calling to plant new churches and ministries in our territory. Linrud often references Jesus’ teaching on wineskins in Matt. 9 and Mark 2, making the point that while existing churches are able to effectively reach people with religious backgrounds, “new wineskins” are needed — in the form of new churches and ministries — to reach the vast

population of those from irreligious backgrounds. “The church is called to help people from all backgrounds come into relationship with Jesus now and for eternity,” shared Linrud. “This requires new modalities to share the timeless message of relationship with Jesus.” In the coming five years, church planting will be an increasingly major priority in Oregon Conference. This bold vision necessitates building a strong church planting system and structure for recruiting, training, resourcing and coaching church planters. Linrud shared that the real goal is not multiplying church plants, but multiplying trained church planters. Church planters plant new churches. The conference is engaging with the NAD Evangelism Institute to implement their ACTS system. The first cohort for this was held April 17–19 and consisted of those who have already planted churches/ ministries to focus on collaborating as trainers and coaches for future planters. “It’s always thrilling to respond to the Holy Spirit’s calling to be in the middle of God’s will to create as many pathways as possible to sharing abundant life in Jesus!” said Linrud. “That’s what church planting is about.” KALEB EISELE

Oregon Conference digital content specialist JONATHAN RUSSELL

Oregon Conference assistant to the president for multimedia communications

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-FT-89

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NORTH PACIFIC UNION

NEWS

MISSION AND OUTREACH

NPUC Hosts ACS Disaster Response and Training Seminars NORTH PACIFIC UNION ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES HOSTED TRAINING SEMINARS IN COLLEGE PLACE, WASHINGTON, FEB. 23–26. The event was open to all and included three main tracks: Community Emergency Response Team certification, emotional and spiritual care certification and Adventist Thrift Ministries summit. The CERT certification class was held at Walla Walla University’s College Place campus and taught the basics of rescue, first aid, CPR, cribbing, disaster preparedness and fire control. Patty Marsh, Upper Columbia Conference Adventist Community Services director, enrolled in the CERT course. “Our final exercise included two teams searching a fully dark, in-use warehouse looking for injured individuals,” said Marsh. “With only flashlights in hand and shouldering our CERT backpack, the exercise was quite intense: searching for and treating — to the level trained — ‘injured’ actors from a devastating earthquake.” Marsh also shared that while college students were heavily represented in the CERT class, community members of all ages took part in the training, including an 81-year-old nurse. “Multigenerational ages working side-by-side

brings a great synergy in serving,” Marsh reflected. SonBridge Center for Better Living hosted the certification on emotional and spiritual care. The training attracted pastors, chaplains, educators and more, and highlighted things like psychological crisis intervention, critical incident stress management, suicide intervention and basic crisis communication techniques. The ATM Summit was also held at SonBridge. Those who attended discussed how to create an Adventist thrift ministry in their community and discussed the topics of donation acceptance, volunteer management, online selling and retail sales overview. Actively engaging in community outreach in new ways is important to ACS, and the trainings, in the words of Byron Dulan, NPUC vice president for regional affairs and ACS director, “expand and diversify the skills of ACS volunteers so they can better serve the needs of hurting people and communities.”

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Dulan’s motto for ACS is Mobilizing People to Transform Communities. “ACS is the new beachhead for transformative and evangelistic ministry to unchurched and hurting people and communities today,” he shared. “ACS centers and urban ministry initiatives scratch the itch of felt needs. We meet people where they are and not where we would want them to be.” To learn more about ACS and find out how you can get involved, visit npuc.org/ministries/community. MAKENA HORTON

North Pacific Union assistant communication director and Gleaner managing editor

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-NPUC-64 CERT attracted a wide variety of people, including college students, ACS directors and nurses.

NORTH PACIFIC UNION NEWS // CONFERENCE

CHURCH

Sundin to Retire, Plubell Voted New Undertreasurer privilege and joy to share the past four years with Brent in our conference Administration. He has provided excellent financial leadership and insightful. He will be missed in our conference, but we celebrate with Brent in God’s new leading for his service.” Please join us in praying for Brent as he transitions to his new role, and as the Oregon Conference committee seeks God’s plan for the next vice president for finance. ANTHONY WHITE

North Pacific Union associate communication director JONATHAN RUSSELL

Oregon Conference assistant to the president for multimedia communications

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-NPUC-27

MITCHELL KESSLER

Sundin’s service includes 10 years in Northern New England Conference, six years in New York Conference, more than six years in the Eastern Africa Division and many more service positions. Mark Remboldt, NPUC chief financial officer, has worked with Sundin for many years. “We started in Eastern Africa Division and have worked together at NPUC for the past 15 years,” shared Remboldt. “He is a friend, but also a special co-worker with the expertise and responsibilities of monitoring our financial records and remittance programs with excellence. I wish Robert the best during his new phase called ‘retirement.’” “It has been a great blessing to me and my family to have had the opportunity to work for the church,” said Sundin. “It is a rich experience serving the Lord as a church worker that has taken our family to many places in the Lord’s vineyard and given me many opportunities to see the Lord perform miracles, which strengthens our faith for these end times.” While his employed service is coming to an end, he still plans to stay engaged in service in his local church community. With Sundin’s retirement, the committee voted Brent Plubell, Oregon Conference vice president for finance, to fill the role. He will join the union in May

after having served Oregon Conference since 2013. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here in the office,” Plubell said. “I’ll miss working with this team every day. Yet, I’m excited for this new opportunity. I believe this new challenge will suit my skill set well. I’m eager to be able to work with treasurers across NPUC in this role.” In 2013, Plubell joined Oregon Conference as an internal auditor before transitioning to roles including accountant and assistant and associate undertreasurer. In 2019, he was voted by the Oregon Conference executive committee to serve as vice president of finance/treasurer. During his tenure at Oregon Conference, Plubell became known by committee members and staff as a thoughtful person who had the ability to take complex financial realities and explain them in simple terms, making them understandable for anyone. “God has blessed Oregon Conference through the service of Brent Plubell in all his roles,” noted Dan Linrud, Oregon Conference president. “It has been a

ANTHONY WHITE

AT THE NORTH PACIFIC UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 8, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT ROBERT “BOB” SUNDIN, NPUC UNDERTREASURER, WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF JULY. SUNDIN HAS SERVED IN HIS ROLE AT THE UNION SINCE AUGUST 2008. HE HAS SERVED IN CHURCH MINISTRY FOR ALMOST 38 YEARS.

Bob Sundin

Brent Plubell

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NORTH PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE // NEWS

CHURCH

NPUC Expands Information Technology Services AT THE NORTH PACIFIC UNION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ON MARCH 8, THE COMMITTEE VOTED TO EXPAND THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WITH AN ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR POSITION. For years, NPUC information technology department has provided services and support to the local conferences in various capacities. For some conferences, NPUC provides full technology support and deployment. Since NPUC information technology is able to combine services of multiple conferences, various costs — including software, connectivity and others, which are partially covered by the conferences — are able to be reduced. The need to expand technology services came from a study Oregon Conference commissioned in 2021 with an independent technology service provider. The provider examined the current model and structure NPUC provides, analyzing costs and comparing

what other options the conference could explore. The audit affirmed the services and cost NPUC is providing and recommended improvements and adjustments, including additional personnel and expenditures on software tools. NPUC administration and NPUC presidents’ council received those recommendations from Oregon Conference and agreed that with today’s ever shifting technology landscape, more needed to be done. The new expanded services at NPUC will benefit all conferences in the union, and raise NPUC’s capacity and responsiveness in providing rapid support to the needs of the field. “Everything the IT team does is about helping all people in reaching one more

for Jesus, especially the staff within NPUC territory,” shared Bordeaux. “Our primary goal is to accelerate and multiply the work of others through providing technology solutions that work well and reliably, and supporting them when something breaks.” “From computers for staff, servers, wired and wireless networks, phone systems, security camera systems, cloud

services, cyber security and others, our aim is to propel the mission,” he continued. “Humanity needs Jesus and to hear the Bible-based Adventist message of hope and wholeness. Jesus is coming, and soon, my desire is to help you reach the hurting.” ANTHONY WHITE

North Pacific Union associate communication director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-NPUC-28

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NORTH PACIFIC UNION NEWS // CONFERENCE

YOUTH

Eight Northwest Teams Move Forward to NAD Pathfinder Bible Experience TWELVE PATHFINDER TEAMS MET AT WALLA WALLA VALLEY ACADEMY ON MARCH 11 TO COMPETE IN THE ANNUAL NORTH PACIFIC UNION PATHFINDER BIBLE EXPERIENCE, HOSTED BY UPPER COLUMBIA CONFERENCE. PBE is a team-based challenge put forward by the North American Division to test the knowledge of the team on certain blocks of scripture. PBE was developed to encourage Pathfinders to conduct in-depth study and memorization of scripture and to help them reflect on how the Bible applies to their own lives. A new section of the Bible is selected each year, and this year’s focus was the book of John. Teams begin the competition by competing with teams from other local Pathfinder clubs. If they answer a certain percentage of the questions correctly, they then move on to the next round at their local conference level. The teams that do the best at the conference-level competition are then selected by a panel of judges to move forward to the union level. This year, 12 teams from across NPUC competed at the union level. Of those 12 teams, eight moved on to the division level competition in Tampa, Florida, on April 21–22. “I was reminded again how excited the Pathfinders are when they are waiting to hear the results of their team’s effort,” shared Rob Lang, NPUC youth and young adult director. “They have so much energy and enthusiasm to hear the results of their hard work and dedication. They are clearly all winners because they are all growing!”

FIRST PLACE TEAMS Idaho Conference » Middleton Swords Oregon Conference » Pleasant Valley Go Fish » Pleasant Valley Goldfish » Whipple Creek Watchmen Upper Columbia Conference » Colville Cougars Washington Conference » Cascade Eagles » Sojourners Team Pastor John » Sojourners Team Who Loved Jesus

“They have so much energy and enthusiasm to hear the results of their hard work and dedication. They are clearly all winners because they are all growing!” — ROB LANG Location of the NPUC PBE rotates throughout the six conferences each year. The next NPUC PBE will be hosted by Idaho Conference on March 8–9, 2024 and will highlight Joshua and Judges. MAKENA HORTON

North Pacific Union assistant communication director and Gleaner managing editor

MAY/JUNE 2023

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-NPUC-67

ACTION

NEWS

NORTHWEST

CHURCH

Milwaukie Spanish Church Member Ministers to Women SINCE ERIKA FELIX HEARD THE ADVENTIST MESSAGE AND WAS BAPTIZED IN 2006, SHE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT JESUS WAS CALLING HER TO BECOME A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST WHOSE LIFE PURPOSE WOULD BE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS. “My life’s mission is to share the healing love of Jesus with all the women around me and that makes me very happy,” said Felix. “I really enjoy inviting my friends from my work to my house for tea and prayer. Some of them have already come to church, others have not, but I continue to invite them and show them Jesus is their best friend.” Felix shared she feels especially blessed that after praying and sharing Jesus with a single mother who had fallen into alcoholism after her husband abandoned her with their three children, she had the privilege of seeing her and her three children recently baptized. When Felix, the youngest of 11 children, was about 10 years

old, her father abandoned the family. “I used to see my mother sitting in front of our house praying, singing and reading her Bible. Sometimes I would see her cry, but her faith was very strong, and she kept singing and praising God no matter how difficult her life was,” she said. Felix thanks God for her mother who not only taught her to have an optimistic attitude in the midst of difficult situations, but showed her by example that God was a faithful friend and worthy of her trust and devotion. Today, in addition to caring for her husband and three beautiful young adult children, Felix is an elder and the director of the women’s and prayer ministries at her church. During the pandemic, Felix also

began recording brief spiritual reflections filled with messages of hope and healing, which her friends regularly thank her for. At the beginning of Milwaukie Spanish Church’s Women in Power ministry, Felix cooked her invitees a healthy breakfast on Friday mornings, and after spiritual reflection, they prayed for each other. They currently meet one Friday a month at her home or at the home of one of the ladies. “Liz Batz — the pastor’s wife — is always willing to share a spiritual reflection for this ministry of prayer, for which I am so grateful.” Marlon Batz, Milwaukie Spanish Church pastor, said, “Sister Erika’s ministry allows plans and activities taking place inside and outside our beloved Milwaukie Spanish Church to be preceded and supported by the power of

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prayer. As celebrated preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, ‘In our church we have a power station, the ministry of prayer,’ led by our sister Erika.” We pray that the Lord will inspire more disciples to become mission-focused powerhouses of prayer and disciple-making for God’s honor. CAROLANN DE LEÓN

North Pacific Union Hispanic, family ministries and ministerial associate director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-HSP-33

ACCIÓN

NOTICIAS // NOROESTE IGLESIA

Miembro de la Iglesia Española de Milwaukie Ministra a las Mujeres

DESDE QUE ERIKA FELIX ESCUCHÓ EL MENSAJE ADVENTISTA Y FUE BAUTIZADA EN EL 2006, ELLA ENTENDIÓ CLARAMENTE QUE JESÚS LA ESTABA LLAMANDO A CONVERTIRSE EN UN DISCÍPULO DE CRISTO, CUYO PROPÓSITO DE VIDA SERÍA COMPARTIR LAS BUENAS NUEVAS. “La misión de mi vida es compartir el amor de Jesús con todas las mujeres a mi alrededor y eso me hace muy feliz,” comparte Felix. “Realmente disfruto mucho invitar a todas mis amigas de mi trabajo a mi casa para tomar té y orar. Algunas de ellas ya han venido a la iglesia, otras aún no, pero continúo invitándolas y mostrándoles que Jesús es su mejor amigo.” Felix comparte que se siente profundamente bendecida porque después de orar y compartir a Jesús con una madre soltera que había caído en el alcoholismo después de que su esposo la abandonó con sus tres hijos, ella tuvo el privilegio de verla a

ella y también a sus tres hijos bautizarse recientemente. Cuando Felix, la menor de 11 hijos, tenía unos 10 años, su padre abandonó a la familia. “Solía ver a mi madre sentada frente a nuestra casa orando, cantando y leyendo su Biblia. A veces la veía llorar, pero su fe era muy fuerte y seguía cantando y alabando a Dios sin importar cuán difícil fuera su vida.” Felix agradece a Dios por su madre que no solo le enseñó a tener una actitud optimista en medio de situaciones difíciles, sino que le mostró con su ejemplo, que Dios era un amigo fiel y digno de su confianza y devoción. Hoy, además de atender a su esposo y a sus tres hermosos hijos jóvenes,

Felix es anciana, la directora del ministerio de la mujer y directora del ministerio de oración en su iglesia. Durante la pandemia, Felix comenzó a grabar breves reflexiones espirituales llenas de mensajes de esperanza y sanación, que sus amigas le agradecen regularmente. Al comienzo de su ministerio, Mujeres Con Poder, Felix les cocinaba un desayuno saludable los viernes por la mañana, y después de una reflexión espiritual, oraban la unas por las otras. Actualmente se reúnen un viernes al mes en su casa o en la casa de una de las damas. “Liz Batz—la esposa de nuestro pastor—siempre está dispuesta a compartir una reflexión espiritual para este ministerio de oración, por el cual me siento muy agradecida.”

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Marlon Batz, el pastor de la Iglesia Hispana de Milwaukie, dijo, “El ministerio de la hermana Erika permite que los planes y actividades que se realizan dentro y fuera de nuestra amada iglesia sean precedidos y respaldados por jornadas de oración. Como dijera el célebre predicador Charles Spurgeon en nuestra iglesia tenemos ‘una central eléctrica, el ministerio de oración’ dirigido por nuestra hermana Erika.” Oramos que el Señor inspire a más discípulos a convertirse en centrales eléctricos enfocados en la misión de Cristo de hacer discípulos para la honra de Dios. CAROLANN DE LEÓN

Conferencia de la Unión del Pacífico Norte ministerios hispanos y familiares asitan director

ALASKA CONFERENCE NEWS

EDUCATION

AJA Raises Funds for Heart Research

At the end of the day, students got their hearts pumping!

ANCHORAGE JUNIOR ACADEMY IS BLESSED TO HAVE SEVEN CONSTITUENT CHURCHES. THEY ARE THE HEARTBEAT THAT ENABLES THE SCHOOL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF ITS STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Over the course of the school year, AJA tries to visit each constituent church for a Sabbath celebration. The students sing, lead out in prayer and scripture, perform skits and express their gratitude for the prayers and financial support given to the school. Without the support of these churches, AJA would not exist. During the month of February, the school not only worked hard to grow

students’ academic and spiritual skills, but also highlighted growing healthy hearts. AJA partnered with American Heart Association to raise funds for heart research and individuals in need of life-saving heart surgeries and treatments. Aside from asking for donations, students also learned how their circulatory system functions. On Valentine’s Day, students celebrated by rotating through heartfocused activities. In one rotation, students learned about the circulatory system and pretended they were a red blood cell moving through the four chambers of the heart before heading out on its journey through the body. In another rotation, students learned that the heart is a muscle that must be strong to pump blood effectively through the circulatory system. They practiced this concept by transferring water between two containers

with a tennis ball cut with a valve-like opening. Students had to squeeze the ball—contract the heart—to open the valve as they filled and then released the water. The goal was to “pump” for at least one minute without stopping, learning that the heart is a hard-working muscle that never takes a break! A highlight of the rotations was a sensory tub to learn about three of the components that make up the blood being pumped by the hearts. Students touched “redblood cells” that carry oxygen and nutrients, “platelets” that clump together to help stop bleeding and form scabs, and “white-blood cells” that fight against viruses and infection. In the final rotation, students created heart themed art projects after listening to their own hearts using stethoscopes. At the end of the day, students gathered in the gymnasium to get their hearts pumping! They completed jump races, jump-rope endurance contests and hula hoop rock, paper, scissors. By the end,

hearts were racing and smiles were ear to ear. AJA is blessed to be a part of an educational system that values teaching the whole child—mentally, spiritually, physically and socially. We know that Adventist schools require many resources to run quality programs, but the sacrifice made by parents, churches, their constituents and our communities are worth it. Our Adventist schools are making a difference today and creating a brighter future for our students — an eternal future where we can walk hand in hand with our Creator. Thank you to each one who helps make this dream possible for any Adventist school in our union. You are appreciated! ELIZABETH ANGASAN

Anchorage Junior Academy teacher JEANIE DE LA TORRE

Anchorage Junior Academy teacher KATIE RICHMOND

Anchorage Junior Academy teaching principal

A student mimics the pumping of the heart.

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More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-AK-23

ALASKA

Marsha Johansen and Christine Noel

NEWS // CONFERENCE MISSION AND OUTREACH

Craig Church Practices Friendship Evangelism FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN CRAIG, A SMALL COMMUNITY ON PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND IN ALASKA. THURSDAY IS A SPECIAL DAY THERE. IT’S THE DAY THE LOCAL ADVENTIST CHURCH PROVIDES FREE LUNCH FOR THE COMMUNITY. All are welcome to come, eat and catch up with each other. It’s a time to fellowship. Some weeks, only a few folks show up, while other weeks the fellowship hall is full. Either way, everyone on Prince of Wales Island knows the church is a place where all are welcome. When people come in with questions about the Bible, follow-up studies are arranged. Aside from an 18-month period when it was suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ministry has been active for about 20 years. But, even during the pandemic, the church continued to provide meals through a sack lunch “grab and go” program.

The program all started with member Debbie Vaughn’s weekly grocery trip to town. She invited friends to meet up with her at the church to share lunch. They then began to stay, spending the afternoon together working on sewing and handwork projects while enjoying each other’s company. Friends started inviting other friends and eventually they opened their fellowship time to the entire community.

James Jespersen and Elizabeth Bovee

Vaughn’s son, Dwaine, grew up looking forward to the weekly event and now he takes an active role in preparing the meal and giving follow-up Bible studies. Marsha Johansen currently leads out in preparing the meal, with other members pitching in by providing soup, making sandwiches or helping with cleanup. Johansen is excited about the program because several people come for lunch and then begin to regularly attend church. James Jespersen has been attending the lunches for three and a half years. He began attending the lunches as soon as he arrived in Craig. He said it is a blessing to have the ministry back after the COVID

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shut-down and hopes it never closes again. Elizabeth Bovee shared, “It’s a great opportunity to welcome the community in a friendly, welcoming way. Making connections and welcoming people gives us the opportunity to invite people to our church services.” Christine Noel and her husband, Bill Burke, arrived in Craig in 2017. They love the fellowship. Noel said, “The church has become quite the spiritual family for me. I’m incredibly grateful for this wonderful little church and its outreach.” JANET FAIRCHILD HAMILTON

Craig Church member

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-AK-20

IDAHO CONFERENCE NEWS

EDUCATION

BVAS Students Produce BVAS LIFE Magazine “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION,” “YOU’RE ON THE AIR” AND “SEND IT TO PRINT” ARE ALL PHRASES UTTERED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES AT BOISE VALLEY ADVENTIST SCHOOL AS STUDENTS ENGAGE IN VARIOUS MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES INCORPORATED INTO THEIR CURRICULUM THIS YEAR BY STEPHEN STOKES, FIFTHAND SIXTH-GRADE TEACHER.

In conjunction with the language arts program, Stokes has incorporated three forms of media into the curriculum: Student Press, a school newspaper; BVAS BoomBox, a podcast; and BVAS LIFE, a student life and culture magazine. Student Press was the first to be incorporated. The student-led, bi-monthly newspaper consists of an editor-in-chief, a team of section leaders and a classroom of reporters. Its purpose is to share school events, student opinions and activities happening at the school. Stokes shared, “It was established out of the fifth- and sixth-grade language arts class to teach students to write with accurate information in the spirit of responsible journalism. In keeping with Christian principles, all the articles promote the ideals of Jesus Christ and His belief in each student’s potential.” Brielle, sixth-grade editor-in-chief, said, “I appreciate the chance to lead out in a real-life project and love doing something important.”

Stokes’ next inspiration grew from hours of listening to sports events, latenight dramas and DJs who spun stories and hit songs on the radio. Thus, was born BVAS BoomBox. BoomBox is also a studentled, monthly production, comprised of an executive producer, assistant producer, on-air talent and copy editors. Podcasts often include a review of the school calendar, unique features or on-air interviews. The purpose of podcasting is to allow additional learning opportunities to build confidence and literacy. The format enables students in seventh and eighth grade to practice their listening and speaking skills, which are both conversational and formal. BVAS LIFE was the third media form incorporated. It is a student-led, quarterly magazine that consists of an editorin-chief, assistants, editorial team and publishing team. BVAS LIFE highlights student essays, photos, poetry and encouragement for life application. It was founded to inspire students in seventh and eighth grade to create higher forms of communication. “The hope in publishing BVAS LIFE, is to show parents and friends of the school that students in middle school are capable of doing major tasks with the leadership of Jesus Christ and limited instruction from adults,” noted Stokes.

BVAS students write, edit and prepare the Student Press for publication as part of their language arts class.

BVAS LIFE gives the students a voice to do just that. Ashton, eighth-grade editor-in-chief, shared, “My one wish for this magazine is that it just keeps getting better and better and improving as time goes on.” Ava, an eighth-grader who submitted an award-winning essay for the magazine, noted that students have an opportunity to “spread love” and possibly “impact the world” through this magazine. Stokes shared that BVAS LIFE is now available on a digital source at flipsnack.com/C69B9BFF8D6/bvas-life.html

and a digital file for the newspaper should be coming soon. Future plans include a subscription to build a financial foundation. There is also a plan to create a live-streaming hour-long podcast that would replicate a radio program for families to listen to during the day. MELANIE LAWSON

Boise Valley Adventist School teacher

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-ID-49

IDAHO

NEWS // CONFERENCE YOUTH

Roes Retire After 30 Years of Camp Ministry

PHOTOS BY EVE RUSK

DOUGLAS AND DARLA ROE RETIRED EFFECTIVE DEC. 31, 2022 AFTER 30 YEARS OF MANAGING AND LEADING CAMP IDA-HAVEN. THEIR 30 YEARS INCLUDED WORKING WITH CAMPERS; HIRING AND MENTORING HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE-AGE STAFF; AND HOSTING CHURCH GROUPS, WOMEN’S GROUPS, OUTDOOR SCHOOLS, QUILTING GROUPS, MUSIC GROUPS AND FAMILY REUNIONS.

When they first began in December 1992, the camp didn’t have the updated cabin circle, RV park with full hookups, basketball court, treehouse, gazebo or hotelstyle ADA-compliant rooms. The waterfront was eroding and the bathrooms in the main lodge were in serious need of updating. Fast-forward to today, the camp now has nine cabins for campers — one also serves as a cookhouse for groups outside the summer camp season. Frosty’s garage, a large space that houses boats and equipment, is large enough to hold 100 campers and staff when the weather isn’t conducive to outdoor activities. Above the garage are two apartments and six full-service hotel rooms with ADA-compliant features.

A bathhouse was built close to the old cabins that now serve as summer staff lodging and holds laudry facilities. Each room has a shower, toilet and sink. The waterfront has been reclaimed with retaining walls and docks. A building with storage for waterfront equipment also has a lookout area on top for lifeguards. The physical changes have been huge. Larger, however, is the influence Douglas and Darla have had on 499 staff members and thousands of campers. Former campers and staff now send their children to camp as campers and as staff. Darla provided superb management and delicious meals. Douglas kept the facilities running smoothly. Their apartment sat below the fireplace area in the cafeteria. They had 30 years of people walking over their heads, 30 years of being awakened in the night to take care of a problem like re-lighting a pellet stove or dealing with bears, and 30 years of serving. Daniel Jenks, former summer staff member and current operations manager, said, “Douglas and Darla know how to train and mentor staff in ways that empower us. They teach and stand back to support but not micromanage.” Idaho Conference and the camp operating board planned an intimate retirement celebration held at Cloverdale Church. While there could have been hundreds, even thousands, of people who wanted to

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Douglas smiled while reflecting on the memories shared at his and Darla’s retirement celebration.

wish the Roes well, Douglas and Darla didn’t want a huge celebration. Benji Mellish, former staff member, prepared a video that featured pictures from 30 years of camp, photos of letters to Douglas and Darla from campers and staff, and staff group pictures from each year. Rob Lang, North Pacific Union youth and young adult director, presented a plaque commemorating their 30 years of service. They still live in the area and are always ready to assist Bethany and Bruce Pratt, the new couple leading Camp IdaHaven. They are enjoying a quieter life and still have an interest in the ministry of the camp. EVE RUSK

Idaho Conference communication director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-ID-48 David Salazar praised the Roes and invited members of the camp operating board to come forward for a prayer of dedication.

MONTANA CONFERENCE NEWS

CHURCH

Conference Announces 2023 Camp Meeting LAST SUMMER, MONTANA CONFERENCE CAMP MEETING ENDED ON A HIGH NOTE, AND WE PLAN TO PICK UP RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT OFF. WE ARE PREPARING FOR A FANTASTIC WEEK WITH GREAT SPEAKERS, HOBBY CLASSES, FOOD, FELLOWSHIP AND OF COURSE, AT ITS CORE, JESUS.

Attendees float down the Madison River. Participants learn to paint with acrylics in the hobby class.

Camp meeting starts on Wednesday, July 12 and ends Saturday night, July 15. Our featured speaker will be Derek Morris. Morris currently serves as president of Hope Channel International, Inc. and host of Hope Sabbath School, an in-depth interactive study of the Word of God broadcast worldwide on Hope Channel. Born in England, his greatest joy is helping people experience a life-changing encounter with Jesus. We will continue our hobby classes and breakout sessions for adults on Thursday and Friday. Last year, these classes and breakouts were a huge success. While many of them will return, new ones will be added. Whether you want to learn how to hold a Bible study, paint with acrylics, garden or share your faith, you’ll want to be there for these workshops. If you’re looking for some relaxing time outside with your family or friends, we are floating on the Madison River on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, we reserved the pavilion at

Hyalite Canyon. This is a great place to hike, swim, paddleboard or canoe. If these excursions don’t interest you, there will be things to do on the campus of MEA in the afternoon. Watchmen A cappella will bless us with a musical concert to close out the Sabbath. This a cappella group is different in its mission, as they help reduce tuition rates for other students who need help financially. In 2017, six students from six countries established Watchmen at Andrews University. You can learn more about their ministry and music at watchmen7.com. We look forward to seeing you at MEA for Montana Conference Camp Meeting 2023. As always, plans may change, additions will be made and more details will be shared. For more details and the most up-to-date information, visit mtsda.org. STEPHEN CARLILE

Billings Church pastor and Montana Conference communications coordinator 24

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More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-MT-76

MONTANA

EDUCATION

NEWS // CONFERENCE

MEA Students Ski the Summit

At the end of the day, everyone was taken to Bozeman Hot Springs to sooth out sore muscles from the day and to prepare for an even bigger skiing day in the morning. On the third and final day, we were very lucky to cap off Ski the Summit with a bang at Big Sky Ski Resort. The mountains were huge, THE WEATHER WAS WONDERFUL, THE SKY WAS BLUE AND THE GROUND the runs were plentiful and the snow was still fluffy. Everyone was darting down the WAS COVERED IN THICK, FRESH WHITE FLUFF. THE SLOPES WERE mountains all day, getting as many runs in on CALLING, AND MOUNT ELLIS ACADEMY’S STUDENTS AND VISITORS WERE this special occasion as possible. “Big Sky was really awesome, and as VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIT THE MOUNTAIN. always, Mad Wolf was my favorite run,” Ski the Summit kicked off at MEA’s very own Bear Canyon Grace Carter, MEA junior, cheerfully stated. A trip to Big Sky Ski Hill for some exclusive night skiing. The evening closed in the is always worth the drive, and this was very apparent in every lodge with singing and a talk. It was magical to hear the voices of face, shining with satisfaction of the events of the day, and the my peers, new and old, filling the wood abode. Douglas Elsey, this occasion overall. year’s guest speaker, did not fail to keep the room’s rapt attention Ski the Summit is a very special time when we can grow as he gave a worship thought. It was one of the best times I’ve had closer to those we know and those we met at the event. “It is one at our ski hill. of my favorite things that MEA does in the year,” said Junior On day two, we had the privilege of going to Bridger Bowl Reimann, MEA senior. It is a very anticipated time for those for a fun-filled day. Whether a skier or a snowboarder, there was who want to get out in the snow and even those who would no arguing that it was wonderful to take a trip up the mountain. prefer to stay in. On the whole, this was an incredible Ski the Those who didn’t ski or snowboard still had plenty of opportunities Summit that is likely to stick in the minds of to have fun. the participants for a very long time. Faculty and community members provided minicourses — including freestyle art, cake decorating and a trip to the AVA ROGERS trampoline park — for everyone who didn’t go to the mountain. Mount Ellis Academy junior

Students excited to start the day.

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-MT-78

GARY MCLAIN

OREGON CONFERENCE

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

CHURCH

Executive Committee Approves New Investment in Gladstone Campground THE FIRST OREGON CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE YEAR WAS HELD ON FEB. 23. ONE OF THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WAS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF GLADSTONE CAMP MEETING. Since the Gladstone Park property was purchased in the late 1920s, the centerpiece of the grounds has been the main pavilion. For decades the pavilion has seated thousands and has been covered by a tent, set up each year, just for camp meeting. In 2022, that tent almost didn’t arrive. The contractor providing the tent was nearly two weeks late in erecting the structure. The delay caused the set-up crew to work nearly around the clock preparing for opening night. Setup that normally took 20 days was completed in six! It became clear that this schedule could not be repeated. As camp meeting ended, the tent contractor informed Oregon Conference they did not intend to accept another contract for 2023. The event team went to work seeking bids from other event companies. Ultimately, only a small number could even provide the 20,000 square-foot structure required. Months of research led to a decision point: rent a tent from out of state for a three-times-higher rental rate — more than $100,000 — or build a pavilion.

Building Plans Ultimately, the team decided on plans for a structure with open sides that will fit the same 20,000 square-foot footprint. “I’m excited about the potential of this pavilion,” said Dan Linrud, Oregon Conference president. “Not only will it meet the needs of Gladstone Camp Meeting for decades to come, it will also create opportunities to host other events throughout the good-weather season.” Project Cost and Funding — An Unanticipated Blessing The project is estimated to cost $2.5 million. The budget includes development, permitting and construction, permanent weatherproof PA and lighting systems, and electrical upgrades. The plans call for the project to be financed with a $2 million loan from the NPUC revolving fund, as well as up to $500,000 cash-on-hand. As conference administrators were laboring over the question of how to pay for this project, an unanticipated blessing arrived. 26

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The Plaza Pavilion at Gladstone Camp Meeting has been a location of featured speakers for decades.

Years ago, Somerset Lodge, a senior living community, was build on Gladstone Park land. In exchange for investing, Oregon Conference received a 50% stake in the business of Somerset. Since then, income from the property has been used to maintain and enhance the campgrounds. In the next month, Somerset Lodge will finish paying off its own mortgage. This means the income from Somerset Lodge will increase enough to cover the entire loan payment. Before the need was articulated, God had a plan to provide. With the executive committee’s unanimous vote in favor of the project, development and planning kick into high gear in preparation for construction. The new Plaza Pavilion is planned to be completed by July 2024. In the meantime, camp meeting staff are making plans to address the needs of 2023. Please pray for a smooth development process as we invest in the future of Gladstone Camp Meeting. JONATHAN RUSSELL

Oregon Conference assistant to the president for multimedia communications More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-OR-36

OREGON

Schools See Bump in Enrollment Throughout Conference

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS // CONFERENCE

EDUCATION

OREGON CONFERENCE SCHOOLS HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, CULMINATING IN A 15-YEAR HIGH OF MORE THAN 2,700 STUDENTS FOR THE 2022–2023 ACADEMIC YEAR. Brandon O’Neal, Oregon Conference vice president for education, said, “Many families came to our schools during the pandemic because we offered more educational opportunities than public schools. Even after COVID-19 restrictions have eased, families have stayed because of the love their children felt in our school communities.” The increase in enrollment has not only had an impact on students, but on their families as well. Megan Hall, Rivergate Adventist Elementary principal, said, “Openness to community families has increased our enrollment significantly. One of these families took an opportunity to

Shady Point Adventist School students with their projects.

attend church with our school. I was told educators — including bringing more later that this was the first time the parent international teachers to the team! had attended church in 25 years. It has been As this school year wraps up, we pray amazing to see the opportunity to minister Oregon Conference schools will continue to not only to students but also to families.” not only be centers of excellent academics, Another critical part of the success but also be spaces where students are loved of the 32 Oregon Conference schools are and nurtured in faith. the teachers who have the sacred task of leading students to Jesus. Growth MCKENZIE WALLACE in enrollment has meant that school Oregon Conference education department administrators had substantially more writer educator positions to fill for this school year than average. In spite of a shortage of More online at available teachers, the schools were NWADVENT.ST/118-3-OR-35 able to fill all 35 positions with quality

Gladstone Camp Meeting 2023 CAMPESTRE HISPANO » JULY 13-15 GLADSTONE ENGLISH » JULY 18-22 This year’s speakers include: Karl Haffner

John McVay

Kessia Reyne Bennett

Seth Pierce

Patricia Vasquez

...and so many more!

Learn more at www.OregonAdventist.org

OREGON

CONFERENCE // IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS YOUTH

Teen Pathfinders Gather for Annual Convention

main goals is connecting teens with established leaders. The program graduates urged teens to pay close attention to each area of leadership they would experience in the program, and to watch for things they felt passionate about. “The reason I plan these weekends is because TLT helped me,” Scribner said. “The job I have now, I got because I discovered my passion when I was in the TLT program.” During the remainder of the weekend, TLTs attended workshops on various areas of leadership, as staff members attended special mentor training classes. Then, on Sabbath afternoon, the Master TLTs welcomed the newest leaders to the program with a special induction ceremony. Current TLTs saluted as the inductees marched in to receive their bi-colored shoulder cords. As the weekend concluded, TLTs and staff alike shared hopes and dreams for the future, including more frequent gatherings, mission trips and social events, better online connection between clubs and expanded opportunities during training weekends. As the TLTs headed home, sunlight illuminated a generation of young leaders and their dedicated mentors.

AT TWIN ROCKS FRIENDS CAMP IN ROCKAWAY BEACH, OREGON, LATE JANUARY BROUGHT A RARE WEEKEND OF SUNSHINE — A FITTING WELCOME FOR THE BRIGHT SMILES OF AROUND 40 OREGON PATHFINDER TEENS AND THEIR ADULT MINISTRY PARTNERS.

The group gathered on the coast to welcome a new cohort of young leaders and to continue the decades-long tradition of mentoring in ministry through the Teen Leadership Training program. The 2023 Oregon

Pathfinder TLT Convention was held with about 75 teens and staff present. A dozen Master TLTs, as the program graduates are called, attended the convention and shared stories and encouragement with the new initiates. TLTs typically gather twice a year, but due to pandemic disruptions, this was the first solo convention since January 2020. The TLT program focuses on mentoring high-school-age Pathfinders through the transition from club participation to leadership in Pathfinders. By the time they graduate from the fouryear program, young people are fully prepared to lead clubs of their own. The weekend began with a Friday evening meeting, as Rachel Scribner, program coordinator, shared inspiration for TLTs and staff alike. Scribner encouraged TLTs to get to know their conference leadership, especially Oregon Conference Pathfinder director Daniel Ortega, explaining that one of the program’s

DANIEL ORTEGA

Oregon Conference Pathfinder director

DANIEL ORTEGA

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-OR-39 Pathfinders and their mentors gathered for the annual TLT retreat.

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OREGON

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS // CONFERENCE MISSION AND OUTREACH

Conference Hosts NAD eHuddle Event

NAD eHuddle 2023 was held at Holden Convention Center in Gladstone, Oregon.

IN OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT AND SHARE IN A UNITED VISION ARE MORE CRUCIAL TO THE CHURCH THAN EVER. While the Adventist Church may not always look or minister the same in different communities, sharing a clear purpose and mission is what allows us to pool our resources and experiences in ways that, individually, we could never hope to. This was the philosophy behind eHuddle 2023, an event that brought upper church leadership and clergy from across the North American Division to Holden Convention Center in the middle of February.

eHuddle is an annual evangelism and leadership visioning event presented by the NAD. From case studies showcasing successful launches of urban centers of influence, to successful church revitalization efforts in local churches, the three-day event focused on the most recent developments and best practices happening across the division. Though presentations spanned a wide variety of topics including digital innovation, when to baptize and even emerging initiatives like gaming ministries, one of the themes strongly emphasized this year was community engagement. More than a dozen guests shared what was happening in their local contexts before eHuddle ended on Wednesday. Nitza Salazar of Idaho Conference shared the work she and others have

been doing alongside children with special needs through performing arts. Elizabeth Talbot pushed against the Adventist temptation to wait until someone has reached our spiritual standards before baptizing them. Tandi Perkins of Alaska Conference shared insights into Native Ministries and their turn toward cultural sensitivity in light of the church’s past abuses and missteps. Roger Hernandez, pastor, emphasized the church’s need to intentionally develop curiosity in approaching their communities. With its emphasis on social and digital ministry innovations, several current and former members of Oregon Conference were mentioned as examples of engaging new forms of ministry. This included the teams behind the How the Church Works Podcast, digital missionary Justin Khoe, and Colby Maier, local Portland pastor whose YouTube ministry has grown to more than 1 million subscribers this year. 29

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Careful not to directly equate views and online subscribers with long-lasting conversion, Adam Fenner, director of Adventist Learning Community, said, “Every Adventist is already an ambassador. Some of us have huge platforms and some only have a few dozen in their network, but we are all called to be ambassadors for Jesus.” You can watch all the presentations, including audience Q & A with nearly every speaker, on the NAD Adventist YouTube channel and find event content including presentation summaries by following @nadmultiply on Instagram and Facebook. KALEB EISELE

Oregon Conference digital content specialist

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-OR-37

OREGON

CONFERENCE // IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS MISSION AND OUTREACH RED 2023 participants listen during the program.

“So many churches are losing youth at a rapid pace, and one thing we’ve noticed is that churches who have successfully created a culture that fosters youth have really focused on it,” said Martinez. “It doesn’t just happen, it’s intentional.” “It is truly amazing to know there are leaders in the highest positions of our Hispanic ministries who are laser focused on supporting the youth,” he continued. “That signals to me an investment that, honestly, I didn’t grow up seeing. This switch has been, to me, one of the best ways that we’ve come together as a community to lead a revival that not only affects the youth, but the entire church.” “We’ve noticed how fundamentally important the gospel has become and spend less time on the semantics of what that looks like. This principal-driven ministry has made me want to stay involved,” he shared. “There’s financial support, people, effort and interest going into this — and I think that’s the kind of investment we’ve noticed,” Martinez continued. “Looking into the future is exciting. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I find myself being supported by those around me, and that, to me, is invaluable.”

Hispanic Ministries Holds Annual RED Conference LEADERS FROM SPANISH-SPEAKING CHURCHES ACROSS OREGON CONFERENCE CAME TOGETHER IN TURNER, OREGON, FOR ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENTS: RED. RED, an acronym for Redimir, Entrenar y Discipular — redeem, train and disciple — exists to equip and inspire local church boards as they set about their ministries for the coming year. Strategically scheduled as early as possible, RED usually takes place after church boards and new leaders have been established in their local churches, but early enough to set a coordinated strategy and mission for the rest of the year. Eli Martinez, youth ministries director and communications director at Forest Grove Spanish Church, has been attending RED events for more than a decade. “RED represents this formalized sharing of knowledge in which wisdom gets passed down from leader to leader,” said Martinez. “We come together as a community to be able to grow through that shared knowledge that we have from working in the church in different leadership

positions. It’s amazing because we have the opportunity to learn from leaders across the conference who have varying experiences, and ultimately, we get to share and learn from each,” he shared. RED emphasizes collaboration and tangible progress by breaking up the event between listening to speakers and dynamic, on-the-ground decision-making by local church boards. Martinez shared that many local church boards intentionally plan around this event and take steps such as voting on and approving action items for their KALEB EISELE churches throughout the weekend. This Oregon Conference digital content specialist allows church boards to return to their churches prepared to implement ideas from the weekend. Concerns about youth engagement were a major focus during this year’s RED event. As someone who has been part of his local church leadership team since his teenage years, Martinez found More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-OR-38 this focus to be meaningful. 30

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BIBLE READINGS for

2023 FOLLOW THE DAILY READING PLAN AND YOU WILL READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN A YEAR. S

2 Samuel 5:1–10; 1 Chronicles 11–12

Psalm 133

Psalm 106–107

2 Samuel 5:11–25; 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13–16

Psalm 1–2, 15, 22–24, 47, 68

Psalm 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, 132

2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17

Psalm 25, 29, 33, 36, 39

2 Samuel 8–9; 1 Chronicles 18

Psalm 50, 53, 60, 75; Psalm 65–67, 2 Samuel 10; 69–70; 1 Chronicles 19; 2 Samuel 11–12; Psalm 20 1 Chronicles 20

Psalm 32, 51, 86, 122

2 Samuel 13–15

Psalm 3–4, 12–13, 28, 55

2 Samuel 16–18

Psalm 26, 40, 58, 61–62, 64

2 Samuel 19–21; Psalm 5, 38, 41–42

2 Samuel 22–23; Psalm 95, 97–99 Psalm 57

1 Kings 1–2; Psalm 111–118; 1 Chronicles 7–10 Psalm 37, 71, 94

2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21–22; Psalm 30

Psalm 108–110

Psalm 119:1–88

1 Chronicles 23–25

Psalm 131, 138– 139, 143–145; 1 Chronicles 26–29; Psalm 127

1 Kings 3–4; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 72

Note: Our reading plan gives you a break on Sabbath to let you spend quality time with God in other ways. Follow us @NWAdventists on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-BLE-51

MAY/JUNE 2023

UPPER COLUMBIA CONFERENCE

UCC Hosts Youth Bible and Mission Conference

SERVE | ONE MORE

YOUTH

afternoon they helped package proposals that another donation 2,700 pounds of beans, helping of $500 was made and both to feed 900 families. teams were awarded a prize. “It was a breath of fresh “We had two goals for this air. I saw the young people event,” shared Brower. “First really enjoying themselves,” to begin creating space for our explained Farr. “I want to see teens — especially those who revival in our church, and that may not be in an Adventist means spending time with school to gather, interact and young people. We want them worship. Second, to start back in church, so we need to building a network of youth be friends and mentor them, to leaders around the conference cheer them on, to work side by who will partner with us side with them, to make conference youth THE UPPER COLUMBIA CONFERENCE YOUTH DEPARTMENT HELD to let them lead events happen. I believe we are starting to accomplish these THEIR FIRST ANNUAL UCC YOUTH BIBLE AND MISSION CONFERENCE. and support them and help goals.” Youth groups from Stephen Farr, Pendleton them make it happen. I was so To get involved and know Pendleton, Pasco, Richland, and Pilot Rock district pastor impacted by this event — the about upcoming youth events Kennewick, Othello and and main speaker of the event, singing, the service and the and youth leader training, College Place Village churches shared three messages: to time with these young people.” email Cheryl Wallace at all joined together for the believe, belong and become. Later in the evening, a cherylw@uccsda.org to be added one-day event to connect high These three messages focused shark tank-style event was to the NextGen Youth Leaders school-age teens. Throughout on who God has created us to held to hear how the youth email list. the day, youth were provided be, which was the theme of the felt they could make an a place to worship, to be conference. impact. Two youth groups, AUTUMN DUNZWEILER spiritually challenged and to The service project for Pendleton and Richland, made Upper Columbia Conference participate in service projects. the event was held at Pasco presentations to their peers communications coordinator Richie Brower, UCC Riverview Community and leaders. There was only associate director of youth and Outreach Center and a local one cash prize to be awarded. young adult ministries, shared, senior care facility. At the However, adults in the room “We encouraged them to join food bank location, hundreds were so moved by their the mission of the church as we of families come each week to work to serve one more — both pick up food. While there, the More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-UC-45 on the day of the conference 75 young people were tasked and as they return to their to re-package beans. That churches.” Stephen Farr and youth lead out in song service during the Youth Bible and Mission Conference.

UPPER COLUMBIA SERVE | ONE MORE // CONFERENCE

MISSION AND OUTREACH

Pasco Riverview Community Service Food Bank Grows PASCO RIVERVIEW COMMUNITY SERVICE FOOD BANK HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE TRI-CITIES AREA. IN 2012, ABOUT 50 FAMILIES WERE SERVED WEEKLY BY THE FOOD BANK. HOWEVER, AS THE POPULATION HAS GROWN, SO HAVE THE NEEDS OF LOCAL FAMILIES. MORE THAN A DECADE LATER, ALMOST 900 FAMILIES ARE BEING SERVED WEEKLY.

Food boxes go on a roller conveyer outside to be placed in a food wagon.

by a team of volunteers. “The group we have continues to work like a well-greased machine,” said Arlt. “Our operation is very fast-paced now with 200 families signing in for food per hour and 50 new families registered each week. On average, we now are handing out food to more than two and a half families per minute.” The process involves several steps. It begins inside the facility with the shelf food, canned food, spaghetti and dried beans and rice put

into the food boxes. From there, the boxes go on a roller conveyor outside to be placed in a food wagon. The wagons are then taken to tables of food where produce, cold cereal, chips and bread are added. After the boxes are filled, the wagons are queued and ready for the clients. They serve the community for five hours every Wednesday, always

AUTUMN DUNZWEILER

Upper Columbia Conference communications coordinator

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-UC-44

MAY/JUNE 2023 MAY/JUNE2023

LANA FRANKLIN

“Pasco Riverview Community Service Food Bank is a true ‘community’ organization,” shared Stan Arlt, Pasco Riverview Community Service Food Bank co-director. “Little did we know that the food bank operations would become so dynamic after all these years.” Last year, the food bank distributed 1.4 million pounds of food with the help of two donated trucks: one that hauls eight pallets of food and another that hauls four pallets. Along with the truck, they have two forklifts: one donated and one obtained from a grant. The bulk of food received is from three Washington food suppliers: 2nd Harvest in Pasco, Northwest Harvest in Yakima and Blue Mountain Action Council in Walla Walla. Additionally, supplemental food is purchased from donations and grant funding to supplement nutrition. The food bank is open every Wednesday and run solely

maintaining a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. “What the future holds for our operation hold we do not know,” shared Arlt. “We will follow God’s leading. Some weeks food supplies are limited as our food suppliers indicate, there is less food available to them to distribute. However, we move forward in faith — it seems like when we have needed something, the Lord has provided.”

UPPER COLUMBIA

CONFERENCE // SERVE | ONE MORE MISSION AND OUTREACH

New Christian Radio Station Arrives in Bonners Ferry OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, BONNERS FERRY CHURCH HAS BEEN PRAYING FOR A WAY TO REACH THEIR COMMUNITY. “I had been stewing over the problem of how to communicate the gospel, but specifically to children and families in the Boundary County area,” shared Jason Worf, Bonners Ferry Church pastor. In 2021, Federal Communications Commission opened a one-week enrollment period for non-commercial, educational, full-power radio stations. “The radio stations in our area didn’t provide any children’s programming,” explained Worf. “We had considered trying to buy programming time on other radio stations, but when the opportunity presented itself to apply for a radio station, we jumped at it.” The goal was to create a family-friendly radio station with solid Bible teachings, good music and programming for kids. Church members promptly began researching, looking for funding and finding professionals to help with the application and setup process.

Cornerstone Christian School, a ministry of Bonners Ferry Church, eagerly got involved and was excited about the opportunity to have a radio station connected to their school. On Nov. 9, 2021, the application for a radio station was submitted for 90.7 FM frequency in Bonners Ferry through Upper Columbia Corporation. The school and church began to pray for God’s will to be done and didn’t let any time go to waste as they waited. An operating board was elected and detailed plans for equipment and budget began. Several months went by before they heard the news — FCC granted a license to build a radio station on Feb. 14, 2022.

Call letters were discussed and KQFR Cornerstone Family Radio was decided upon. As soon as the authorization to build came through, the board stepped into action and began purchasing equipment. On Sept. 7, 2022, an antenna was installed on Black Mountain and the first test broadcasts began on 90.7 FM. The radio station board submitted a request to FCC for the final license to broadcast, which was granted on Nov. 4, 2022, almost a year after the initial application was submitted. Since then, students from CCS have been recording content. Adelyn Worf, CCS student, shared, “I love recording for Cornerstone Family Radio. It’s cool

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hearing my voice on the radio and possibly being heard by thousands of people.” Isabella Coddington, another student, explained, “I like all the stories played on Cornerstone Family Radio. When I’m in the car, I don’t want to stop listening to it.” Worf recalled, “We had a problem of how to communicate the gospel to children and families in our community. God answered that prayer and we launched KQFR 90.7 FM, Cornerstone Family Radio. Our mission is to bring hope and healing to the families of North Idaho through music, stories and teachings from the Word. With this radio station, we can do just that.” AUTUMN DUNZWEILER

Upper Columbia Conference communications coordinator

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-UC-42

UPPER COLUMBIA EDUCATION

SERVE | ONE MORE // CONFERENCE

Holy Spirit Fuels UCA Igniting the World Campaign UPPER COLUMBIA ACADEMY HAS A PASSIONATE, DETERMINED ALUM WHO HAS BEEN WORKING ALONGSIDE UCA ADMINISTRATORS FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, EVER ARTICULATING A VISION FOR EXCELLENCE AND GIVING STRONG SUPPORT. At the recent alumni weekend held on Oct. 15, 2022, this long-time friend offered an $800,000 challenge. If alumni and friends gave $800,000 to the Igniting the World campaign by January 31, she promised to match each gift, dollar for dollar. The news of the matching challenge filled the Igniting the World fundraising team with both excitement and terror. How would they ever raise $800,000 in just three months? The previous nine months, they had worked their fingers to the bone and only raised $400,000. This was clearly a God-sized challenge. The team dropped to their knees, begging God to show them the right moves to make. They began promoting the matching challenge via email and Facebook. Then, in December 2022, the Igniting the World staff sent out a direct mail appeal about the matching challenge. God used

those simple communications to touch hearts. Alumni, parents, grandparents and church members began pulling out their checkbooks and credit cards. Letters and gifts arrived almost every day. There was one young lady who had no connection whatsoever to UCA, who even felt impressed to give. When asked why she donated, she said, “Because a friend of

to $500 gifts; dozens of $1,000 to $5,000 gifts; a few fivefigure gifts; and one six-figure gift. As the team worked, they often sent up praises to God, for they realized that this activity was not of their making. By mid-January — even before the end of the matching period — the full $800,000 had been raised. The matching challenge donor was ecstatic! “God has

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” PROVERBS 3:5-6 (NLT) mine told me that God is on the move in UCC, and I just want to be part of His work!” For three months, the fundraising team was busy entering data, printing receipts and signing thank you letters. They receipted hundreds of $10 to $100 gifts; many, many $100

been my business partner for the last 40 years. I love partnering with Him!”

she said. “This experience affirms not only that there is tremendous community support for our academies, but it tells us how God feels about our academies—they are an essential part of His work here on earth.” The Igniting the World campaign, which will continue until Dec. 31, 2024, is all about excellence and sustainability for Upper Columbia Academy. For more information or to join the joyful givers who have already given in support of this $15 million campaign, go to ignitingtheworlduca.org. LINDA KLINGER

Upper Columbia Academy FoundationONE executive director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-UC-43

MAY/JUNE 2023

UPPER COLUMBIA

CONFERENCE // SERVE | ONE MORE MISSION AND OUTREACH

WWU Center for Humanitarian Engagement Opens Tool Library WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HUMANITARIAN ENGAGEMENT STAFF, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS, GATHERED FOR A RIBBONCUTTING EVENT FOR THE WALLA WALLA TOOL LIBRARY IN COLLEGE PLACE, WASHINGTON. THE EVENT, HELD ON FEB. 28, ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF THE TOOL LIBRARY TO THE COMMUNITY.

PHOTOS BY MARCUS LUPSE

The ribbon-cutting was attended by Norma L. Hernández, mayor of College Place; John McVay, WWU president; David Lopez, CHE executive director; Patty Marsh, Upper Columbia Conference Adventist Community Services director; Megan Lersbak, CHE tool library project specialist; and CHE employees. “We are so excited to be offering this resource to empower our community,” Lopez shared. “There are many individuals that have a need for tools but can’t afford them.”

The tools in the tool library have been used by WWU for service days, an annual event held for the last 29 years to help the surrounding communities. However, many of the tools go unused for the majority of the year. “When Patty Marsh mentioned that the ACS disaster response trailer had not been used in several years, I let her know that we had a purpose,” explained Lopez. The tool library, in partnership with ACS, is a trailer with hundreds of

tools that have been organized by Lersbak, senior business/ entrepreneurship major and CHE’s project specialist. Lersbak was excited to get involved with this project to help empower the community to live more sustainably. “The tool library gives people the tools they need to succeed,” Lersbak shared. “Many individuals have the skill to do home repairs or community projects but might not have the resources or funds to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive tools.” Marsh was exited that the trailer was able to be used again. “It’s a win-win for everyone,” said Marsh. “The

trailer is an asset that we did not have a consistent use for. When David asked about the trailer, it was an honor to know that we are using it to its fullest.” Not only is this tool library for the community, but in the event of an emergency, the trailer is fully prepared to be deployed to provide tools and resources for volunteers working with ACS. For more information about the tool library, visit heynn.com. AUTUMN DUNZWEILER

Upper Columbia Conference communications coordinator

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-UC-41

MAY/JUNE 2023

David Lopez, CHE executive director, announced the opening of the Walla Walla tool library to the community.

BIBLE READINGS for

2023 FOLLOW THE DAILY READING PLAN AND YOU WILL READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN A YEAR. S

Psalm 119:89–176

Song of Solomon 1–8; Proverbs 1–3

Proverbs 4–6

Proverbs 7–9

Proverbs 10–12

Proverbs 13–15

Proverbs 16–18

Proverbs 19–24

1 Kings 5–6; 2 Chronicles 2–3

1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4

1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5

2 Chronicles 6–7; Psalm 136

Psalm 134, 146–150

1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Proverbs 25–26

Proverbs 27–29

1 Kings 15:1–24; 2 Chronicles 13–16

Ecclesiastes 1–6 Ecclesiastes 7–12

1 Kings 15:25–34; 1 Kings 16; 2 Chronicles 17

1 Kings 17–19

1 Kings 10–11; 2 Chronicles 9

Proverbs 30–31

1 Kings 12–14; 2 Chronicles 10–12

1 Kings 20–21

1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18

Note: Our reading plan gives you a break on Sabbath to let you spend quality time with God in other ways. Follow us @NWAdventists on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

2 Chronicles 19–23; Obadiah; Psalm 82–83

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-BLE-52

MAY/JUNE 2023

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY

MISSION AND OUTREACH

Ukrainian Pastor Delayed by War

HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE WAR IN UKRAINE BROKE OUT, ANDRII KOLODII WAS MAKING PLANS TO MOVE TO THE U.S. TO PASTOR THE NEW AND FAST-GROWING SLAVIC AMERICAN MISSION COMPANY — NOW CALLED UKRAINIAN ADVENTIST CHURCH — IN FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON.

He had already dropped off his sons at the airport so they could reunite with their grandparents in the U.S., and he and his wife planned to travel to Seattle soon after. Little did he know how his mission would be delayed for almost a year. The war changed all the family’s plans. Three days after the war started, Kolodii was able to drive his wife and her parents from Kiev to the western part of Ukraine to be with relatives. He went back home a few days later. “I personally did not go to any bunk shelter,” Kolodii said. “When the sirens go off every 40 minutes, it’s just not practical to run down the stairs when you live on the 16th floor. I would hide in the foyer of our apartment.” Now, nearly a year later, Kolodii and his family are getting established together in their new ministry assignment in Federal Way. Kolodii shared that it was an internal struggle to come to the U.S., to leave his motherland country in a time of need, but he knew the Ukrainian congregation here was waiting, calling and connecting. Ukrainian Church in Federal Way started as a church plant on Feb. 24, 2020 with no idea about the ensuing pandemic

Andrii Kolodii’s (right) plans to pastor in the U.S. were delayed for almost a year due to the war in Ukraine.

WASHINGTON

GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY // CONFERENCE

or the future significance of this date in Ukrainian history. They grew rapidly during the pandemic with more than 200 members now attending and involved in ministry. They were formed into a new church family on March 11, and are now seeking their own house of prayer for mission and ministry. “In any case, by God’s grace, we are here. I ask for your support and prayers as I learn the language and organize work with my new church,” Kolodii requested. MINISTRY MIRACLES IN UKRAINE

“I am happy to report that the church in Ukraine is alive and active — despite the war, rockets, death and hardship,” Kolodii shared with Washington Conference pastors through translator Vitali Oliinik in January. “Almost everywhere, our church buildings became shelters. Most of them have basements that were used as shelters. People are receiving help, food and shelter.” Before the war, an estimated 60,000 Adventist members lived in Ukraine. A number of members were drafted to serve. Many church members died, including one pastor who was also trained as a medical doctor. Some churches were destroyed. In the initial days of the war, many leaders and members left the area. Some stayed in a basement next to the union office in Kiev, including two Hope Channel personnel who continued ministering to

people by producing content throughout the first phase. In the subsequent weeks, pastors and leaders returned to their communities in Ukraine, and the church is back to serving at full capacity. The difficulties of war are motivating people to serve and help each other, so the church continues to grow. One church in the northern part of Ukraine experienced a particular miracle. A rocket hit the church, went through a side wall at an angle, landed outside the church and did not explode. “At the time, the pastor and many of the church members were in the basement,” Kolodii recounted. “The pastor is a friend of mine from childhood.” AN UNKNOWN FUTURE

“It’s hard to tell [how the war will transpire]. I’m not a prophet, so therefore no specific prediction,” Kolodii said in answering questions from his fellow pastoral colleagues in western Washington. “However, I can tell you a little about those people who are defending it. These are my friends, some are my relatives, people that I know.” After 30 years of independence from the Soviet Union, Kolodii explained, Ukraine has a new generation of people whose mindset is different from older generations. They have a mentality of freedom. For those who are 40 or 50

years of age or older, there are some nostalgic sentiments connected to the Soviet Union era. “Yet, the war destroyed the remnants of illusions and affections to the Russian world,” Kolodii said, who also shared population estimates of 25–30 million Ukrainians to 120 million Russians. “There is a new generation with a new approach and new tactics who are on the frontline.” Still, the future is unknown. “The hope is that God will do something within Russian to change the climate,” Kolodii said. “There is great help from the world community in Ukraine, both weapons and finances, but for reasons unknown to me, it’s not enough.” “As Christians, we of course do not rely on weapons,” Kolodii continued. “Each day in Ukraine and in Ukrainian churches here in the U.S. and all around the world, people are gathering to pray for God to intervene and to save us.” HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

Washington Conference communication director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-11

MAY/JUNE 2023

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE

GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY CHURCH

Bellevue members are excited to learn more about others’ cultural backgrounds and how God works in those cultures and nations.

Bellevue Church Holds Multicultural Sabbath SETTING FOOT IN BELLEVUE CHURCH ON FEB. 4 WOULD HAVE SENT ANY MEMBERS OR VISITORS INTO A KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORFUL ARRAY OF CLOTHING AND FACES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. CZECH REPUBLIC, PHILIPPINES, COSTA RICA, DENMARK AND IRAN WERE JUST A FEW OF THE COUNTRIES REPRESENTED THAT SABBATH MORNING. Hosting a multicultural Sabbath worship program was an experience I found incredibly empowering. As I was finishing my master’s in counseling at Southern Adventist University, I attended a Sabbath service highlighting various cultures within the regular church program. I saw how many students and staff were involved in the service. There were stories from people I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. That night, I emailed my pastor from my home church in Bellevue, Washington, and asked if we could do something like that for our church. And, ready for anything new and inspiring, he said yes. The question may arise: Why have a multicultural Sabbath at all? The main drive was to involve and empower people who typically aren’t heard from and who don’t usually get a chance to share their culture.

I really wanted everyone to take advantage of learning about where people come from, how they got to our church and how they worship in their language and culture. The idea and hope was to give everyone a chance to understand each other within their individual cultural contexts. The church foyer held a joyous reunion as members and visitors united in their cultural outfits. Some wore kitenge from Kenya, while others wore barong tagalog from the Philippines and huipil from Guatemala. As the service began, one-by-one, people went up front in their nation’s attire and introduced their country or countries represented. There were scripture readings in Portuguese, Spanish and Czech, as well as songs sung in Swahili, Finnish and Tagalog. 40

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After 19 people shared their songs, stories, readings and cultural spotlights, the congregation sang the closing song “God is so Good” in Spanish, Japanese, Italian, Swahili, German, Tagalog, Czech and English. After the service, a potluck ensued with food provided from members of the church showcasing their favorite cultural masterpieces from South American empanadas to Jamaican ackee and Iranian sholeh zard. The after effect of this multicultural program is already apparent. Not only are people excited to learn more about others’ cultural backgrounds and how God works in those cultures and nations, but they also want to have more multicultural Sabbaths to involve more people. This type of event can empower people who may sometimes make themselves scarce or fly under the radar to be more visibly connected to their church family and to be empowered to realize they, too, have something wonderful to bring to the table. Even those who sit back and worship from the pew feel involved in connecting over learning and worshiping within various cultural lenses. The mold can now adjust to welcome and appreciate more of who people are, where they come from and who God has made them to be. These kinds of Sabbaths provide a glimpse of what heaven might be like. YVANNA HAMMEN-ÁLVAREZ

Bellevue Church member More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-73

WASHINGTON

GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY // CONFERENCE EDUCATION

Auction Reveals Hearts of Gold for Adventist Education MIKE MERRILL, AUCTIONEER, WAS WELL UNDERWAY IN FACILITATING THE LIVE AUCTION AT AUBURN ADVENTIST ACADEMY’S HEARTS OF GOLD BENEFIT DINNER.

HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

He paused the live bidding of specific items for a special auction feature called Fund-A-Need. This is an auction item where people can donate a set dollar amount in designated increments to help fund student scholarships. Merrill started the top increment at $15,000, promising there would be a price point for everyone. No one responded to this amount, so he moved to $10,000. An enthusiastic donor raised her bid card and stood in support. The large donation sent a ripple across the audience seated at two dozen blue-andgold decorated dinner tables. Merrill called out the next several donation increments — $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250 — with several responses. He stopped midway to make an announcement about a $20,000 matching

fund challenge for Fund-A-Need. He turned to the bid spotter to ask, “So, how close are we to $20,000?” The bid spotter deadpanned, “Not even close.” The audience groaned in disbelief. The excitement had been so high. Surely there was $20,000. “Well, how close?” Merrill questioned. “We’ve surpassed $40,000, and this doesn’t even include the matching funds,” the bid spotter responded. “Ladies and gentlemen, you just raised $60,000 for student scholarships in a matter of minutes!” Merrill announced. The audience’s sigh of relief melted into joyous applause. The Hearts of Gold evening — between two silent auctions, a live auction, a dessert auction and the Fund-A-Need donations — raised significant funds for students to attend AAA financially. Current AAA students, including a Ukrainian refugee student and a student with limited funds from home, shared how much they appreciated the financial support they receive from donors.

“A majority of our students rely on some level of student aid,” said Kellie Nunley, AAA director of development. “Every item purchased, every paddle raised, every dollar donated, every story told, makes a tangible difference in the lives of current and future students at AAA.” Hearts of Gold also provided a reunion — a gathering of AAA supporters including former and retired AAA colleagues who returned for this fundraising event to contribute their time, talent and memories. Kay Sanborn, retired dean, donated a 90-by-90-inch crossword-puzzle-style quilt that she had designed, pieced and sewed with 19 yards of fabric. The puzzle pieces spelled out different memories and places associated with AAA. The bid winner chose to give the custom quilt back to the school to display on campus. Peter Fackenthall, AAA principal, invited 70 students — including 11 Ukrainian refugee students — to encircle the audience during the auction. “These students are why you are here,” Fackenthall said. “Our Ukrainian refugee students have found a safe haven at AAA, but this is a place where all of our students can take refuge from the world, and be immersed in Jesus Christ.” HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

Washington Conference communication director

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-81

Mike Merrill, a professional auctioneer who specializes in charity fundraisers, facilitates the live auction during AAA’s Hearts of Gold benefit dinner.

MAY/JUNE2023

WASHINGTON

CONFERENCE // GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY

MISSION AND OUTREACH

Port Angeles Church Offers Hot Meals of Hope JENNY ENTERED THE WORLD OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND HOMELESSNESS AFTER BEING INTRODUCED TO MARIJUANA AS A YOUNG CHILD.

Hopelessness ruled her life for more than 30 years. She slept on the streets and back alleyways of Port Angeles for nine years, yet with the help of four loving churches, Jenny’s life was reclaimed for God. On Feb. 23, Jenny celebrated five years of sobriety with those on the streets and organizations established to help those in addiction. Port Angeles Church brought their PAHotmeals trailer to the event in order to feed more than 80 people and celebrate with Jenny what God is doing in her life. Jenny now works for Reflections, a local drug counseling agency, helping other addicts find freedom from drugs. Jenny also volunteers and supports the work of PAHotmeals in serving hot soup and grilled sandwiches in the evenings to the homeless.

Renie Thayer, a longtime member of Port Angeles Church, is thrilled with this very local and meaningful ministry. As the PAHotmeals director, she and her husband Larry often serve at the trailer. “PAHotmeals is a fantastic way to be able to reach out to those that are experiencing hopelessness,” said Thayer. After much prayer, it was decided that PAHotmeals’s motto would be “Casting Value – Creating Friends.” It’s exciting to see the volunteer base grow with more than 30 volunteers from within the church as well as incorporating other Christians from the community. Much of the inspiration for this ministry came from Connie McAlister, who was also homeless and addicted on the streets of Port Angeles. She was introduced to Jesus when one of the people she was selling drugs

Jenny celebrated five years of sobriety with her friends on the streets and the organizations that helped her overcome her addictions.

to gave her Steps to Christ by Ellen G. White. She read that little book and went back to her patron to ask who wrote it. She was told that it comes from the Adventist Church. Today, McAlister is Port Angeles’ community service director and works closely with the homeless and community agencies to help those who are willing to receive treatment. It is so important to remember that all people, no matter their condition or addictions, matter to God. Each person is served as if the service were for Jesus. PAHotmeals has distributed more than 1,000 meals in the last five months and is growing. As of now, the church serves meals two nights a week and as the volunteer base grows, the church hopes to continue to add new nights to its feeding program. Port Angeles Church is developing trusting relationships with those on the streets and connecting them to the proper agencies who can assist their journey into freedom from drugs and homelessness. Please feel free to support this growing and meaningful ministry at PAHotmeals.org. JAY COON

Port Angeles/Forks district pastor Port Angeles is serving up hot meals of hope two nights a week for the homeless through their new PAHotMeals trailer.

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-09

MAY/JUNE 2023

WASHINGTON

EDUCATION

GROWING SPIRITUALLY, PRAYING CONTINUALLY // CONFERENCE

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF A NEW STANDARDS-BASED MODEL OF LEARNING WITHIN THE ADVENTIST EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NORTH AMERICA, AND THEY ARE GOING A STEP FURTHER BY OBTAINING MARZANO HIGH RELIABILITY SCHOOL CERTIFICATION. “This shift is so much more than looking at report card structures or aligning NAD standards to our classroom lessons. This shift will change the way we teach our children and track their growth over time,” said Craig Mattson, NCS principal. The preschool-to-eighth-grade campus with 193 students in Puyallup, Washington, received their level one certification paperwork in January. The journey to become a certified Marzano High Reliability School is a blend of both philosophy and practical application. One of the first steps is establishing a safe, supportive and collaborative culture which is primarily nurtured through Professional Learning Community. NCS set up five PLCs to meet twice a month for short work sessions and eight times in the school year for long work sessions. The first PLC project: a vertical alignment of math standards. Standards represent metrics of what students should be achieving throughout the school year. There are hundreds of learning metrics for each student that can be categorized into 12 to 14 core standards. “It’s less overwhelming to look at 14 core standards versus hundreds of

CHURCH

HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

NCS Begins High Reliability Journey

individual standards,” Mattson said. “We asked ourselves: What is the standard? Is it being taught at the right time of year? Are students in second grade ready for what’s coming in third grade?” The reliability work associated with levels one, two and three is increasingly foundational. Level two addresses “effective teaching in every classroom,” while level three gives a framework for “guaranteed and viable curriculum.” Once this foundation work is established, level four presents “standards-based reporting” and level five offers “competency-based education.” Already the difference in the classroom is noticeable. “I’m seeing that my students care more about data. They aren’t categorizing themselves as failures as often, and I’m able to differentiate which students need the most attention based on areas of proficiency rather than on just an assignment,” said Dani Maletin, NCS eighth-grade teacher. As more Adventist schools adopt standards-based learning, the real genius comes through a network of schools making a commitment to developing a high reliability campus. “NCS doesn’t want to be the one-andonly Adventist school who is Marzano certified. We’re looking forward to more schools from our conference, our union and our division joining us in this journey,” Mattson said.

Shelton Church organizes seven prayer teams to pray for specific requests seven days per week. Most groups meet on Zoom with occasional in-person and hybrid prayer times.

SHELTON CHURCH FORMS A PRAYER CHAIN SHELTON CHURCH built a prayer chain of seven groups in response to a challenge by Tyler Long for the church revitalization project. Washington Conference is expanding its church revitalization program to 10 churches per 18-month session. Shelton members are geographically spread out, which makes it difficult to meet in person. The suggestion to start small prayer groups meeting either online or via telephone fit well with Shelton Church’s culture. Seven individuals agreed to be prayer group leaders, thus providing a daily prayer chain seven days a week. Each group has four or five members who meet with their leader through Zoom or via phone call to pray for incoming requests. The church’s website features a prayer request link on the home page. A requestor provides their name and email address with the prayer request or praise. The request is then directed to each prayer group leader who shares the request with their group. The main focus of this prayer group effort is to make certain every request is prayed for every day of the week. Shelton Church is following the apostle Paul’s advice to pray without ceasing. ROB AARON

Lacey Church communication leader

HEIDI BAUMGARTNER

Washington Conference communication director

Bob Marzano, seated, congratulates Northwest Christian School for their level one status as a Marzano High Reliability School.

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-03

MAY/JUNE 2023

MORE ONLINE AT NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WA-10

WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY

NEWS

EDUCATION

WWU Launches New Master of Engineering Program A MASTER OF ENGINEERING DEGREE WILL BE OFFERED BY THE EDWARD F. CROSS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AT WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY BEGINNING THIS FALL.

will also be well-positioned to join the program. Students in the master’s program will benefit from the 75-year history of excellence in engineering instruction and an active network of alumni who are professional engineers. The program will build upon the Bachelor of Science in Engineering program, which has been continually accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology for 49 years. “As the flagship engineering program in Adventist higher education, offering a graduate program is the next innovative step in preparing professional engineers for leadership in this growing field,” said Pam Cress, associate vice president for graduate studies. Applications are now open at wallawalla.edu/apply. For more information on the program, email brandon.shadel@wallawalla.edu. KELSI NASH

WWU university relations supervisor

School of Engineering Facts 98%

of 2020 students were placed in graduate school or engineering careers within 12 months of graduation.

WWU’s School of Engineering is the most diverse engineering program in the Northwest.

$100,000

in engineering scholarships are given to students in addition to other WWU scholarships.

CHRIS DRAKE

The one-year program will focus on expanding technical knowledge and preparing for business and project management in the engineering profession. The program will give current undergraduates the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree and extend their expertise into another discipline with little disruption. The program is also designed to be accessible to working professionals who can attend required in-person classes. The School of Engineering has launched this program to further its mission of developing competent and compassionate engineering professionals at the forefront of their fields. Students will complete coursework in three core areas: engineering specialty, research and design theory, and project management and decision-making. With more than 32 elective courses, students will be able to customize their coursework and projects to align with their professional goals. Students with mathematics or sciences backgrounds

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WWU-63

MAY/JUNE 2023

Prospective students with a background in engineering, math or science will be well-positioned to join the program.

WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY NEWS // UNIVERSITY

EDUCATION

Diversity Groups Extend Impact Beyond Campus Borders

Hispanic Worship Outreach Last quarter, Nuestra Iglesia, Hispanic Ministries and LatinX Club partnered with WWU Hispanic Staff Association to host a joint worship service at Kennewick Spanish Church. Many gathered for Sabado Joven to sing, pray, share testimonies and play Bible games. WWU students shared how God led in their lives and brought them to WWU. George Perez, assistant professor of business and a representative of the Hispanic Staff Association, said these kinds of collaborations bring the community together and build connections around Hispanic culture and worship.

Black Student Leadership Summit Student leaders of WWU’s Black Student Christian Forum club traveled to participate in the first Black Adventist Student Association Leadership Summit in January. The new event was the brainchild of WWU students and others from Pacific Union College, La Sierra University and Loma Linda University. The summit brought together Black student associations to collaborate and share about their work. Sponsored by NPUC, the event was able to feature a number of keynote speakers, including Timothy Golden, WWU professor of philosophy.

Liberty Anderson, sophomore business marketing major and president of BSCF club, shared about the club’s popular events and their focus on making the outdoors more accessible for people of color. “My personal mission as a Black student leader is to make it easier for those who come after me,” said Anderson. “I want to have the difficult conversations and break the barriers so our club and our people can thrive, and so students of color can feel celebrated.” Anderson is excited that the Black Adventist Student Association Leadership Summit will be an annual event and hopes to involve more students in the future. Learn more about organizations on campus that support and celebrate diversity at wallawalla.edu/diversity. KELSI NASH

WWU university relations supervisor

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-WWU-68

ABIGAIL LOMBARD

MANY WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY STUDENT CLUBS CENTER AROUND SHARING CULTURAL EXPERIENCES. SEVERAL STUDENT-LED CHURCHES OFFER CULTURALLY DIVERSE WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES EACH WEEK, IN A SIMILAR EFFORT TO PROVIDE AN INCLUSIVE, VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT OF FAITH. THIS SPRING, THE IMPACT OF THESE GROUPS HAS REACHED BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE COLLEGE PLACE CAMPUS.

ADVENTIST HEALTH

LIVING GOD’S LOVE BY INSPIRING HEALTH, WHOLENESS AND HOPE. MISSION AND OUTREACH On a day devoted to conversations about mission, Adventist Health executives gathered in breakout sessions to discuss leadership in the life of Moses.

including being prepared to care for their teams by practicing personal mental, spiritual and physical self-care. The leadership gathering was part of the Executive Mission Formation program at Adventist Health, which focuses on developing organizational leaders grounded in the unique mission of Adventist healthcare as a living expression of the ministry of Jesus. “Our mission at Adventist Health is: Living God’s love by inspiring health, wholeness and hope. That mission is a unique identifier of why we do healthcare,” said Kristine Johnson, Adventist Health director for Executive Mission Formation. “Our mission is what sets us apart from other nonprofit health systems. We are living and breathing our mission every day for communities across the West Coast as an example of Jesus’ ministry of showing love and compassion to everybody,” she added. “It’s important that we spend time cultivating and building a culture that helps our mission thrive and carry on to future generations.” At the end of the day, Leonor turned the attention of the group back to trusting God. “God’s goals don’t hinge on any one person. We will come and go, and the mission will continue,” said Leonor. “You and I will be part of the story, but it’s not our story. It’s much bigger. God provided both a challenge and a promise that appeared repeatedly in the life of Joshua — the challenge, ‘Be strong and courageous,’ and the promise, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Adventist Health Executives Focus on the Leadership of Moses “WHERE THERE IS RISK, WHERE THERE IS UNKNOWN, WHERE THERE IS GREAT VENTURE AND OPPORTUNITY, SMART LEADERS FRAME THEIR WORK, THINK DEEPLY ABOUT THE STORY OF MOSES,” SAID ALEX BRYAN, ADVENTIST HEALTH CHIEF MISSION OFFICER, TO EXECUTIVES GATHERED IN ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA, IN FEBRUARY FOR A DAY OF CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MISSION OF ADVENTIST HEALTH. The daylong meetings focused on “Leadership Lessons from the Story of Moses” and featured speakers Alex Bryan and Sam Leonor, Adventist Health mission identity and spiritual care executive, who presented four sessions about Moses: A Humble Leader, A Wise Leader, A Constructive Leader and A Prophetic Leader. Bryan spoke about constructive leadership and the advantages of leading with humility as Moses did, including unlocking the power of team collaboration and making space for work that transcends our own lives. Breakout sessions followed for executives to discuss what humility

can look like in their personal leadership experience. Leonor spoke about prophetic leadership and how, like Moses, wise leaders talk with God and seek mountaintops where their hearts are so captivated by that transcendent experience that it changes the way they lead. “Everyone knows when you’ve been with God,” said Leonor. “Everyone knows when you’ve been to your mountain because your face shines.” In response, executives reflected on their own mountaintop experiences and the resulting practical benefits,

MAY/JUNE 2023

KIM STROBEL

Adventist Health project manager for religion, faith and mission More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-AH-46

Make your move.

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See for yourself. Schedule a personalized virtual or in-person visit at wallawalla.edu/visit. Have questions? Call (800) 541-8900 or email info@wallawalla.edu.

MAY/JUNE 2023

1927–2022

RICHARD DREW FEARING SR. Richard Drew Fearing Sr. was born Dec. 9, 1927 to Andrew Coatsworth Fearing III and Helen (Reef) Fearing in Poughkeepsie, New York. His older brother Andrew was born 20 years earlier. The family moved to Columbus, Ohio, when Richard was a toddler. In 1945, Richard graduated from Mount Vernon Academy on a stretcher. He seriously injured a leg months earlier in an auto accident. In 1950, Richard graduated from Washington Missionary College, now Washington Adventist University, in Tacoma Park, Maryland. He earned degrees in theology and history. Richard was one of the first to attend “Minister’s Monday” at the new Andrews University Theological Seminary and, from there, received his master’s degree with a major in systematic theology and a minor in applied theology. During his sophomore year of college, he met his wife, Claoma Suhrie, a senior at Shenandoah Valley Academy, and the two married in September 1951. During the 1960s, Richard spent several summers at New York University working on a doctorate in religious education but did not finish after deciding his ministry was more important. Richard served the church for 40 years as a pastor and administrator. Almost half of those years were spent in the North Pacific Union. He started his ministry in East Pennsylvania Conference where he pastored the Reading, Fleetwood and Williamsport churches. He then moved to Hinsdale, Illinois, where he served as pastor for six years. He was called to serve as the pastor of the Walla Walla College Church in 1963 and enjoyed his interaction with students there until 1969. He served as president of Mountain View Conference for five years before being called to be president of Upper Columbia Conference in 1974. During the 1980 General Conference Session in Dallas, he was asked to be president of NPUC. He served as president until 1986. His last three years of ministry were spent pastoring Frederick Church in Maryland. He retired in 1990 and he and Claoma returned to their home in Boring, Oregon. Richard remained active in church life after his retirement by visiting elderly members in their homes, teaching Sabbath School class when asked and preaching in local churches. His last preaching engagement was in Ferndale, Washington, when he was in his late 80s. Richard was well known for remembering names. Friends and acquaintances tell his children how their father always remembered their name, sometimes after meeting them just one time. Richard Fearing died on Monday, July 18, 2022, at age 94 at his daughter June’s home in Mount Vernon, Washington. Richard was preceded in death by his wife Claoma in 2000 and his second wife Jeanne McMahon in 2006. He married Helen Lickey in 2007. He is survived by his wife, Helen, Portland, Oregon; son, Richard, Gresham, Oregon; daughter, Joy Krause, Loma Linda, California; son, George, Spokane, Washington; daughter, June Saxby, Mount Vernon, Washington; daughter, Jane Fish, Ellensburg, Washington; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Sept. 3, 2022, at North Cascade Church in Burlington, Washington.

MAY/JUNE 2023

CARVER — Shelton Raymond was born March 16, 2022 to Tom and Shelly (Hickethier) Carver, Gresham, Oregon. DAVIS — Theodore Wesley was born Sept. 27, 2022 to Eric and Ashley (Taylor) Davis, Portland, Oregon. KHUT — Sophia Montana was born Oct. 25, 2022 to Ney and Emily (Heagy) Khut, Butte, Montana. KOSTENKO — Kynlee Olivia was born Dec. 7, 2022 to Kris and Karen (Bibb) Kostenko, Portland, Oregon.

both worked in their family medical practice. Jim and Barbara enjoyed traveling and outdoor activities, especially with family and friends, and served on several mission trips. In retirement, the Andersons still love helping at the Spokane South Hill Church which they helped plant. They look forward with joy to Jesus’ return. The Anderson family includes Joyce (Anderson) Wilkens of Spokane, Washington; Bryan Anderson of Spokane, Washington; Eric Anderson of Great Falls, Montana; 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Kent and Ibbie remain strongly committed to God together. They love and support the Adventist Church locally and globally. Their fondest hope is to be reunited with many friends and family members in Heaven one day. The Sandvik family includes Chuck Sandvik of Nampa, Idaho; Randy Sandvik of Palmer, Alaska; Ronda Sandvik of Troy, Idaho; Vonya Sandvik of Anchorage, Alaska; 11 grandchildren and 17 greatgrandchildren.

Sandvik 70th

ACKERMAN — Patricia Ann (Docherty), 76; born Jan. 12, 1946, McMinnville, Oregon; died Jan. 4, 2023, Medford, Oregon. Surviving: spouse, Paul; sister, Shirley Moon.

Anderson 70th

Kent and Ibbie Sandvik

Jim and Barbara Dickerson

James “Jim” and Barbara (Dickerson) Anderson celebrated 70 years of marriage with a dinner on March 14, 2023 in Spokane, Washington. They were married on March 14, 1953 in San Diego, California. Jim was enlisted and Barbara worked for the U.S. Air Force the first few years of married life. Jim later attended Loma Linda University Medical School while Barbara worked for a savings and loan company. They later moved to Spokane, Washington, and

Kent and Vivian “Ibbie” (Pearson) Sandvik celebrated 70 years of marriage with a dinner with friends and family on Feb. 11, 2023 at Palmer Church. Kent and Ibbie met at Laurelwood Adventist Academy and were married on Feb. 8, 1953 in Gaston, Oregon. Three years later, they moved up to Alaska. Kent and Ibbie bought the colony farm and spent the next 67 years farming hay, vegetables, grass seed and prize-winning dahlia flowers. Additional adventures included stuccoing, plastering, commercial salmon fishing and gold mining.

ACOSTA — Jose Abel, Sr., 89; born Nov. 12, 1932, Caguas, Puerto Rico; died March 7, 2022, Renton, Washington. Surviving: spouse, Ethel (Wallen); sons, Jose Jr., Douglas, Gabriel and Richard; daughter, Karen Stopsen; brother, Abdiel Acosta; sisters, Ruth Arjona and Estrella Hidalgo; 19 grandchildren, 2 greatgrandchildren. (This is a reprint with corrected information from September/October 2022.) CARR — Neil Glen, 83; born Sept. 19, 1939, Milton, Oregon; died Oct. 18, 2022, Walla Walla, Washington. Surviving: spouse, Donna (McDow); son, Dan; daughter, Grace (Carr) Killin; sister, Nelda (Carr) King; 4 grandchildren. (This is a reprint with corrected information from January/February 2023.)

MAY/JUNE 2023

DORSETT — Saundra K. (Knutsen), 78; born April 13, 1944, Catalina Island, California; died Feb. 13, 2023, Vancouver, Washington. Surviving: daughter, Kristin Dorsett; brother, Chris Knutsen; 1 grandchild. HUEY — Duane Paul, 89; born March 16, 1932, Topeka, Kansas; died Dec. 25, 2021, Portland, Oregon. Surviving: spouse, Katherine (George); son, Kevin; daughter, Denise (Huey) Havelka; 3 grandchildren. KNITTEL — Eugene Valentine, 88; born Jan. 5, 1934, Hayden, Idaho; died Dec. 4, 2022, Bend, Oregon. Surviving: spouse, Geraldine (Nelson) Ekvall; son, Monty; 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. LYSINGER — Gene Jr., 79; born Jan. 7, 1943, Boulder, Colorado; died Nov. 30, 2022, Lincoln, Nebraska. Surviving: spouse, Heather (White); daughters, Makayla and Marisa Lysinger; brother, Walt. MANNING — Darrel “Darry” Bruce Jr., 48; born Oct. 15, 1974, Eureka, California; died Jan. 18, 2023, Sandpoint, Idaho. Surviving: spouse, January; sons, Nathaniel, Colton, Ranger and William; daughter, Cora Rose; sister, Allison (Manning) La Tour. ROWLAND — Kenneth Milton, 101; born Nov. 18, 1921, Yakima, Washington; died Dec. 28, 2022, Mount Vernon, Washington. Surviving: son, Gael; 4 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

1927–2021 1927–2023

GLEN AND JEANETTE EDGERTON Glen Russell Edgerton was born on June 25, 1927 in Iroquois, South Dakota, and died on Dec. 22, 2021. Jeanette Schwartz Edgerton was born on Feb. 22, 1927 in Startup, Washington, and died on Feb. 8, 2023. Both died of natural causes in Bethesda, Maryland, surrounded by family. Glen and Jeanette met at Auburn Adventist Academy and graduated together in 1945. They were married in Everett, Washington, on June 25, 1947. Their first child, Ron, was born in Everett in 1951. Their second child, Karen, was born while Glen attended Walla Walla College, in 1952. Their third child, Brent, was born in 1957 while Glen studied at Loma Linda Medical School. After graduating LLU, Glen interned at Portland Sanitarium and Hospital where their fourth child, Kevin, was born in 1959. Glen practiced in family medicine in Portland for 33 years, and worked an additional 10 years for Mount Hood Medical Center as director of their medical addiction treatment program. Jeanette loved learning and taking classes at MHCC. While attending, she received her associate’s degree at age 59. She enjoyed crafting, gardening and hosting people at their house. Glen enjoyed cars, especially corvettes, and started running marathons at age 69 with his daughter Karen. Glen and Jeanette loved their church, family and friends, and were active in their local church for 63 years. Of their four children, three of them survive: Ronald (Erika) Edgerton, Karen Edgerton (Rick) Mace and Kevin (Robyn) Edgerton. Their son Brent (Debby) preceded them in death in 2000. Glen is survived by his sister Maya Jean Corrie. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren: Tyler (Cheryl), Katrina, Ryan (Sylvia), Ian, Tyler Tadej, Eric, Kaley, Andrew, Jenna and Chrissy. One grandchild, Erin, preceded them in death in 1997. They are also survived by four great-grandchildren: McKenzie, Vianna, Avyn and Ryder. WIGGINS — Albert Wallace, 86; born Jan. 23, 1936, Toppenish, Washington; died Jan. 15, 2023, Whitefish, Montana. Surviving: son, Brent; daughters, Cindy (Wiggins) Stanphill, Donna (Wiggins) Stafford and Elaine (Wiggins) Bishop; 10 grandchildren and 6 greatgrandchildren.

WOHLERS — John “Bob” Robert, 80; born Jan. 13, 1943, Benton Harbor, Michigan; died Jan. 29, 2023, Centralia, Washington. Surviving: spouse, Earlene (Parmele); son, Jeremy; daughters, Wendy (Wohlers) Boulton and Nikki (Wohlers) Kiger; brother, Bill; sister, Karen (Wohlers) Boulton; 5 grandchildren.

All family announcements are published online at NWAadventists.com/family. To submit family announcements, go to

NWAdventists.com/contribute.

To publish an expanded obituary with a short bio and photo, contact info@nwadventists.com or call 360-857-7200 for submission and cost information.

MAY/JUNE 2023

The North Pacific Union Gleaner accepts family listings as a service to members of Adventist churches in the Northwest. This information is not intended as an endorsement of any facts or relationships represented.

A CHANGE MOVING FORWARD Without a doubt, we all agree that our children are important, and it is vital to protect them. In today’s ever changing digital landscape, we — as parents, leaders, ministers, educators and members — need to be hypervigilant in safeguarding them. Children and parents are often unaware of the potential risks associated with sharing a minor’s personal information online; be it social media or otherwise. Information shared can often lead to long-term consequences, stalking, harassment, identity theft and more. To be proactive in protecting children’s privacy, many governments are considering or have already implemented various preventative measures. Protecting children’s privacy is a critical issue and recent instances with our own publication have brought this issue to the forefront and necessitated closer consideration of our role in children’s safeguards. To this end, the Gleaner/ NWAdventists.com will no longer be accepting nor publishing family birth announcements. This is a first step where this publication is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of the next generation. As we navigate this road and strive to teach and uplift our children, we will continue to seek guidance on the best ways we can improve safety practices and protocols.

North Pacific Union Directory EMPLOYMENT

ALASKA LODGE SEEKS SUMMER HELP. Beautiful setting with restored historic log cabins. Room and board provided, RT airfare, wages 30 hours/week+ guaranteed. Couples welcome. Sabbaths off. Richard and Judy Dennis, 907-822-5299, RedEagleLodge.com. PACIFIC PRESS NEEDS YOU! Pacific Press Publishing® Association is the official publishing and printing ministry of the Adventist Church in North America. PPPA is based in beautiful Nampa, Idaho, in the Boise metro area, which is home to Gem State Academy, four Adventist elementary schools and nearly a dozen churches. Whether you have print industry experience or are looking for a new career, we have a wide variety of jobs available for church members. Come build your career in the publishing industry while sharing the good news of Jesus! Learn more at PacificPress.com/jobs.

LOOKING FOR MOTORCYCLISTS with a desire to minister. Sabbath Keepers Motorcycle Ministry is an opportunity to join an outreach ministry that spreads the Word through fellowship rides and other activities. For more information, call 425-2394545 for Seattle to Bellingham, or 360-798-6861 for other Northwest areas. Send email to

Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Remboldt Undertreasurer . . . . . . . . . . Robert Sundin Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anne Vu Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anthony White Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Makena Horton Creation Study Center . . . . . . . . . Stan Hudson Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Hallam Elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . Becky Meharry Secondary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Waters Certification Registrar . . . . . . . . . Deborah Hendrickson

MOVING? RELAX! Your move with Apex Moving & Storage will be great! As the single point of accountability, we offer peace of mind for the relocating family or individual. Give us a call and take advantage of a volume-rated discount for Adventists. Call Marcy Danté at 800-766-1902 or visit us online at

Early Childhood Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carisa Carr

Local Conference Directory ALASKA CONFERENCE 6100 O’Malley Rd. Anchorage, AK 99507-7200 907-346-1004 • alaskaconference.org Kevin Miller, president; Ashwin Somasundram, v.p. administration; James W. Jensen, v.p. finance

apexmoving.com/adventist.

EVENTS

VACATIONS

or text/call 541-223-8984.

Executive Secretary, Evangelism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bill McClendon

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SONBRIDGE CENTER FOR BETTER LIVING is looking for volunteers and employees to help bring hope and wholeness in Walla Walla Valley, Washington. View current opportunities at sonbridge.org or call 509-529-3100.

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President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Freedman

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CHRISTMAS VALLEY OREGON CAMP MEETING starts June 15 at 9:30 a.m. through June 17, 2023 at 60506 Old Lake Rd., Christmas Valley, Oregon. Speakers include Chalres Bryd, Steve Wohlberg and Dakota Day. Free meals and dry camping available. More information available at

5709 N. 20th St., Ridgefield, WA 98642 360-857-7000 • fax 360-857-7001 • npuc.org Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

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Information Technology . . . . Loren Bordeaux Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Cates Legal Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . André Wang Ministerial, Global Mission, Men’s and Family Ministries . . . . . . . . César De León Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolann De León Native Ministries Northwest . . . . . Steve Huey Public Affairs, Religious Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . André Wang Regional, Multicultural and Outreach Ministries . . . . . . . Byron Dulan Trust (WAF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Brown Women’s Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Patzer Youth and Young Adult . . . . . . . . . . . Rob Lang Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Velvet Lang

Adventist Book Centers 800-765-6955 • adventistbookcenter.com NAMPA ABC 1350 N. Kings Rd., Nampa, ID 83687-3193 208-465-2532 M–Th …. 8:30 a.m.–5:45 p.m.

IDAHO CONFERENCE 7777 W. Fairview Ave. Boise, ID 83704-8418 208-375-7524 • idahoadventist.org David Prest Jr., president; David Salazar, v.p. administration; John Rogers, v.p. finance

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MONTANA CONFERENCE 175 Canyon View Rd. Bozeman, MT 59715 406-587-3101 • mtcsda.org Ken Norton, president; Jim Jenkins, v.p. administration; Erin Tungesvik, v.p. finance

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SUNRIVER, CENTRAL OREGON 4-bedroom vacation home on the North Woodlands golf course. Two master king suites, two queens, one bunk set, hot tub, loft, Jacuzzi bath, gas log fireplace, BBQ, W/D, bikes, all “lodge amenities,” sleeps 10, no smoking, no pets. For rates, photos and reservations: 541-279-9553 or schultz@crestviewcable.com.

Hispanic Ministries . . . . . . . . . . César De León Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolann De León

UPPER COLUMBIA CONFERENCE 3715 S. Grove Rd. Spokane, WA 99224 509-838-2761 • uccsda.org David Jamieson, president; Rodney Mills, v.p. administration; Allee Currier, v.p. finance; Brian Harris, v.p. education

COLLEGE PLACE ABC 505 S. College Ave., College Place, WA 99324 509-529-0723 T–Th …. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. AUBURN ABC 5100 32nd St., Auburn, WA 98092-7024 253-833-6707 M, Tu, Th …. 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. W, F …. 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Sun …. 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

WASHINGTON CONFERENCE 32229 Weyerhaeuser Way S. Federal Way, WA 98001 253-681-6008 • washingtonconference.org Doug Bing, president; Randy Maxwell, v.p. administration; Jerry S. Russell, v.p. finance; Michelle Wachter, v.p. education

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WALLA WALLA UNIVERSITY 204 S. College Ave. College Place, WA 99324-1198 509-527-2656 • wallawalla.edu John McVay, president; Pamela Cress, v.p. for academic administration; Prakash Ramoutar, v.p. for financial administration; Doug Tilstra, v.p. for student life; Jodi Wagner, v.p. for university relations and advancement

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CENTRAL OREGON CAMP MEETING CV “THE SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ” June 15, 16,17 ,2023

Meetings begin on Thursday at 9:30am. Location: 60506 Old Lake Rd. Christmas Valley OR 97641 ( at the SDA Church) Mobile: 541-223-8984 /Email : ioanapeach81@yaho.com Facebook/YouTube : Central Oregon Camp Meeting Christmas Valley Register at: www.centraloregoncampmeetingcvsda.com. Free camping, free parking, free food.

Come learn more about what Walla Walla University has to offer. Go on an informative campus tour customized to your interests. Meet with helpful people like financial counselors and recruiters. Food and lodging is on us for up to three days and three nights during in-person visits.

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Hear from current university students pursuing majors you are interested in. Learn about what it’s like to live in the residence halls. Apply for free today at wallawalla.edu/apply.

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OREGON CONFERENCE Rogue River Church Seeking Missing Members

Rogue River Church in Rogue River, Oregon, is looking for the following people: William and Nancee Brammer; Eric Caron; William Day; Salvador Gomez; Ralph King; Lorna Kline; Joel Madrid; Andrew Matchett; Lyn and Christine McQuilliams; Andrew Mosman; Kenneth Mullins; Francis Nunn; Susan Ralph. If you have any information about these people, please call or email the church office at 541-582-1262 or lskelm@yahoo.com.

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JUST FOR KIDS

1 2 Things to do Outside This 3

Read a book

4 5

Go on a walk

Summer

Summer is approaching, and the weather is improving! With the sun out, there are more opportunities to spend time outdoors and enjoy the heat. Here are five things you can do outside instead of laying on your couch all summer long.

Instead of watching TV inside, pick up a book and take it outside to read. Select an old favorite off the shelf, or perhaps pick a new one up from your local library.

Play with your pet Take your dog out to the backyard for some fun in the sun! Throw a ball or a Frisbee around and enjoy some quality time outside.

Have a picnic Set up a blanket and bring some snacks outside for a change of pace when it comes to summer meals. Some cheese and crackers with your friends or siblings outside beats a boring lunch at the kitchen table!

See if you can go on a walk with your family around your neighborhood. This is a great way to get some exercise while soaking up the sun!

Create some art Drawing or coloring can be a great outdoor activity. Look around for inspiration and draw the trees or flowers you see around your house. Enjoy some time coloring in your favorite coloring book — or color the next page in this magazine! Enjoy the summer and spend time outside! MAKENA HORTON

North Pacific Union assistant communication director and Gleaner managing editor

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-KIDS-40

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Summer Coloring Page

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Teach Your Children to

raying for our children is important. In fact, I like to pray scripture over my children and claim the many promises found in the Bible, but it is also very important to teach our children to pray. It’s easy for us all to say memorized prayers in the morning, before meals and at the end of the day. So we’ve been intentional about prayer in our home and try our best to make it meaningful. We want our children to develop a prayer life of their own now so when they are adults and parents they can continue this essential spiritual discipline. The first and most obvious way that we can teach our children to

AUTHOR

Pray pray is by modeling prayer for them. We all have trials in our homes; trials are a part of this life. Are we getting frustrated, impatient, angry and worrisome, or are we praying first? When our children see us turning to prayer first, they learn from a young age the importance of prayer and God in our lives to lead us. Teach your children, by example, the power of prayer. Make prayer a daily habit. A regular prayer in the morning with my kids includes asking God for patience, kindness and gentleness for mom. Include confession in your prayers with the kids. My kids hear me ask for those fruits of the Spirit first thing at the start of the day. Now that my kids are older, I still pray with them at night, but I leave the room and ask them to talk to God on their own and they both do. Secondly, teach your children what to pray for. Ask your children for prayer requests. Remind them to pray for you as their parent and for their siblings. They can pray for their friends, teachers, pastors and even the kids they don’t get along with. An easy prayer structure to teach kids is ACTS: Adoration: Give God adoration for his amazing characteristics.

LaVonne Long

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-POV-72

MAY/JUNE 2023

Confession: Confess to God the things you are struggling with. Thanksgiving: Express thanks to God for the blessings you have in your life. Supplication: A fancy word that means asking God for personal requests. Even if our kids spent one minute on each section, their prayers could be expanded. Developing a prayer life at a young age is so helpful for our kids as they get older. Finally, make prayer fun. Use practical ideas to incorporate prayer more easily into your children’s life. For example, kids can pray by journaling their prayers. Let your kids pick out a journal and tell them to write down their prayers to God. They can even keep track of their answered prayers. You can also use popsicle sticks to write down prayer requests so they can remember through the weeks what to pray for. You can have a family prayer jar or even a paper prayer chain. Pray together, pray for everything you can think of. God is our ever-present friend, ready to listen. Encourage our kids to believe that and practice that. LAVONNE LONG

Northwest Adventists family columnist

The OREGON ADVENTIST MEN’S CHORUS FESTIVAL OF PRAISE

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NE Washington Camp Meeting -24 Speakers June 20

Kim Kjaer

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2023

Chad & Fadia

Greg Griffitts

Health & Bible Lecturers

Pastor Colville District

Rhonda Backman Witness of the Charms of Christ

photo by Nathan Clark

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Jorge Baute

Main Camp Meeting Speaker Pastor in North Carolina Conference NEWACampmeeting.com Great Children and Youth Meetings

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Sheridan Meadows SDA Retreat Center 89 Sheridan Road Republic Washington 99166

Hector Torres Northwest Ministry Leader

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Yuck! H

a ve you ever stepped in dog poop? If you’ve owned a dog or gone to someone’s house that has a dog, you know to watch out for stinky treasures in the yard. If you happen to be unfortunate enough to step in a yucky spot, you will spend the next while working to get that yucky stuff off your shoes. The worst is when you step in dog poop without knowing, and then track it somewhere, like your house or your car. Then you smell it and it’s too late — it’s now all over everything. There is a hilarious story of an electric vacuum, a Roomba, that accidentally swept over some dog poop during the night and proceeded to smear it all over the living room floor. The poor vacuum didn’t know it was yucky and covered in poop, so it spread it all over everything before finishing its cycle of cleaning for the night. The poor husband found the mess when he walked into the living room and felt grittiness under his feet and discovered, to his horror, the reality of what the Roomba had done. He then detailed

AUTHOR

the work he did while trying to clean everything up. You can find the full story online. This might seem like a very strange topic for a Gleaner article, or anything related to spiritual matters. But it really isn’t so strange. The reality is that in our own lives, we often live with a rather large amount of yuck. Scripture tells us in Rom. 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We are all a mess, and on our own we have no hope of cleaning ourselves up. Sin begins to cover us, and either that drives us towards Christ or it causes us to become nose blind to the yuck in our lives and we turn from Christ. God never changes. Mal. 3:6 tells us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God doesn’t change depending on the person. He doesn’t treat one person badly to turn them from Him, and one person nicely to draw them to Him. Rather, He desires that all would come to Him and be saved. The mere presence of God creates two different reactions in

Natashia McVay

More online at NWADVENT.ST/118-3-POV-70

MAY/JUNE 2023

PERSPECTIVE

people’s lives: to turn to Him or to turn away and not listen. The same sun that hardens clay also melts butter. Our reaction to God dictates our future with Him. He doesn’t force us into a relationship with Him, and He doesn’t force us to be made clean. It’s our choice, whether to come to God or to turn from Him. If we decide to come to God, He promises to help us. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Sin makes us a mess; we have yucky stuff all over us. We stink! And often — like the Roomba — we go around thinking we are just fine, acting like nothing is the matter, all the while leaving a trail of yuck and stink behind

us. But we don’t have to live that way, we have a chance to be made clean, to be washed and renewed and to be made like new again. We have a loving God, a God of the second chance, a God that wants to clean us up and get rid of all the gross and yucky things in our lives. He promises that if we come to Him and genuinely want His power in our lives, He will make us clean and help us start over. This is an amazing God, one that I am truly grateful for. I pray that you will seek God in your life and let Him truly clean you up and help you get started on a life that is filled with His redeeming power. NATASHIA MCVAY

Moscow and Pullman Church associate pastor

A Hill to Die On: PART 2 W

AUTHOR

hen my wife and I were newlyweds, we attended a small group about marriage at our church. It was based on Emerson Eggerichs’ book, Love & Respect. Eggerich suggested that men are meant to lead and women are designed to follow. He taught that there is a hierarchy of leadership that works best when wives submit to their husbands. Eggerich explained it like this: “To set up a marriage with two equals at the head is to set it up for failure. That is one of the big reasons that people are divorcing left and right today.”1 Initially, my wife and I accepted that statement as fact. At the time, we believed the traditional view that women were not called to be pastors. If men were designed by God to have authority in church, shouldn’t they also have headship in the home? We decided that my masculinity gave me the trump card when disagreements arose. It didn’t take long to see the impracticality of this arrangement. Telling my wife, “You need to listen to me because I am the man,” was not Kevin McGill the best way to gain her respect or settle an argument. Lording authority over her on the basis of genitalia also wasn’t the most loving thing to do. We came to believe that relationships work best when they are based on mutual respect and submission. Marriage isn’t about domineering, it’s about giving. Successful marriages aren’t about who holds the power, it’s about

MAY/JUNE 2023

a shared willingness to give power up. This is something the research by John Gottman attests to: “Research shows that when husbands are unwilling to share power in their marriages, they have an 81% chance their marriage will self-destruct.”2 Eggerich presents his case as “biblical,” but he sees things through an authoritarian lens of hierarchy and power. Yet, as Beth Allison Barr explains, “Hierarchy gives birth to patriarchy, and patriarchy gives birth to the abuse of both sex and power.”3 Lording authority over others goes against the clear teaching and example of Christ. Jesus said, “The rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.”4 My assumption about hierarchy caused me to oppose female pastors. I listened to sermons that justified discrimination by saying “women are too emotional”5 and “they are less intelligent,”6 but the most repeated idea was that advocating for full equality was a “slippery slope” that undermines the Bible itself. If advocating for equality and love is a slippery slope, I am here to tell you I am ready for the

“

PERSPECTIVE

Lording authority over others goes against the clear teaching and example of Christ. ride. The Bible was not undermined when abolitionists argued for freedom. And the Bible is not undermined when ladies are pastors. Recent scholarship has shown that many of the statements used against women are misreadings of scripture.7 The idea of the slippery slope is a logical fallacy based on fear. The Bible should never be interpreted through the lens of fear or selfrighteous certainty. Such reading produces bad fruit. Consider it a litmus test. If theological opinions do not coincide with the fruit of the Spirit, it may be because the fruit from that theological tree is rotten.

In an article entitled, “The Slippery Slope of Hierarchy Theology”, Keith Gregoire explained the following:8 “Intuitively we know that men and women are created equal. But if enough pastors say that the women’s role is to serve, and a man’s role is to lead ... it can take us down a slippery slope where we actually think God himself believes in the subjugation of people. The idea that if you stop believing in hierarchy in marriage, your theology will get progressively more off-base is completely unfounded. In fact, the very opposite is true.”

Traditionally, the church and society saw women as fundamentally less capable than men. Aristotle believed that a woman is a deformity that occurred in the ordinary course of nature.9 Historically, many of the founders of Christianity held teachings about gender roles that are shocking to even the most conservative Christians today. Tertullian called women, “The devil’s gateway.”10 Origen proclaimed, “It is improper for a woman to speak in assembly no matter what she says ... since it came from the mouth of a woman.”11 And Calvin said, “All women

A Hill to Die On: PART 2 (cont.) are born inferior and a consequence of the superiority of the male sex.”12 The patriarchal view was that women were inferior and incapable of leading. This is not true of our society today. At the General Conference in 1990, our church voted for female elders,13 and it is generally acknowledged that the most significant leader and founder of the Adventist Church was a woman. This creates a problem because we can no longer make a case for female subjugation based on women being innately inferior to men. So now complementarians say men and women are equal, they just have different roles. This is meant to smooth everything out, but notice that a man’s role comes with power and prestige, and a woman’s role comes with submission to the man. As George Orwell said, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”14 Just as we know racial discrimination is wrong, our intuitive sense of justice also informs us that gender based discrimination is wrong. Yet it is still part of official church policy. As a pastor, all I can say is I am sorry. We must do better. Churches that teach male headship say they are against abuse.

But the theological underpinnings of male headship provide the moral cement that enables abuse to flourish. They send the message that protecting that theology is more important than protecting the people who have been harmed by the abuse. Those who promote the biblical teaching of equality for all believers do not ignore the real biological differences between men and women. They simply don’t see those differences as an excuse to lord authority over one another. If we follow the teachings of Jesus, we would all fight the impulse for authoritarian power and seek to serve one another. This is a theological hill I am willing to die on. The gospel is good news for men and women because it tears down the walls of hierarchy and separation. The church needs both men and women to share in spreading the truth that sets people free. KEVIN MCGILL

Green Lake Church senior pastor To view the list of referenced source material, please visit nwadvent. st/118-3-POV-71 or scan the QR code below.

Editor's Note: The views expressed are those of the writer and may not fully reflect those of the North Pacific Union or its leadership. Respond to any Gleaner topic by emailing talk@nwadventists.com or nwadventists.com/talk.

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more gen

Attracting our

NEXT GENERATION of leaders:

NextGen Pastor Scholarship

“

Join a partnership that offers tuition for future pastors and teachers.

NextGen Teacher Scholarship

ore than ever, our world needs leaders who are trained to build communities of faith, discovery, and service. That’s why the North Pacific Union Conference and Walla Walla University partnered to offer an innovative pair of scholarships that provide free tuition for qualified education or theology students.

When I found out I received the NextGen scholarship I couldn’t believe it. Everything that shouldn’t be matching up was. For a while I had been wrestling with a feeling of God’s call for my life. I am now pursuing it!

”

“

Both my husband and I are enrolled at Walla Walla University and because of the NextGen Teacher Scholarship we have an opportunity to achieve our goals. The scholarship will make a significant impact on my future and my goal to become a certified teacher.

—Brandon, NextGen Pastor Scholarship recipient

“

”

After finding out that I got the scholarship I shed a tear of joy and gave a thank you prayer to God. I would love to work as a youth pastor and engage with the younger generation.

”

—Khup, NextGen Pastor Scholarship recipient

—Leslie, NextGen Teacher Scholarship recipient

There is a waiting list of future pastors and teachers hoping to enroll at WWU. Learn more about the NextGen scholarships and how you can help by visiting www.npuc.org/nextgen or calling (360) 857-7000.

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